Check out the image below to see the Table of Contents of the Jul/Aug edition of Level Renner magazine.  Keep scrolling down and we’ll give you a sneak peak into one of the Legion Profiles you can find in the issue.

 

Claire Gadrow was spotlighted via our dossier feature in the magazine. Here it is, unabridged:

 

Name: Claire Marcille Gadrow

Age: 44

Nickname: SpeedyG or Claire Bear

Residence: South Kingstown, Rhode Island

Day Job: Assistant Vice President for College Advancement, Connecticut College

High School: Centre Wellington District High School, Fergus, Ontario, Canada 1987

College: University of Rhode Island 1991 (accounting degree), 1998 (MBA degree)

Club: Narragansett Running Association

Sponsor and Race Team: Block Island Sport Shop – Thanks Jim and Marion Ortel

Coach: Glenn Guillemette

Average Miles per Week: 70

Notable PR’s:

New Bedford Half Marathon 2010, 1:24:05

Boston 2011 2:56.46

Boston 2010 2:56.52

Hartford 2010 2:57.58

California International Marathon 2009 2:57.59

Favorites

Races:

Boston Marathon

Hartford Marathon, especially 2010 when Helen Dinan, Maureen Terwilliger and I ran side by side

Gansett Marathon

Blessing of the Fleet 10 miler

Workouts:

1. Any long run with marathon pace at end

2. 6-8×1 mile repeats with 2:00 rest. If any mile repeat is slower than previous one for two consecutive repeats, then you have to stop the workout (pace properly or fail).

3. Any mid distance run of 12-15 miles with 3 mile tempo blocks at 10 mile race pace

Places to Run:

Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI

Corn Neck Road, Block Island, RI

White Pond and Duval Trails, South Kingstown, RI

Running Shoe: Asics Gel Racer

Workout Songs: Thunderstruck

Book: Jack Daniels Running Formula

Hobbies: Competitive Equestrian, 2013 Rhode Island Modified Adult Equitation Champion. My beloved horse is Connor, a Dutch Warmblood.

Gadrow racing in her Block Island Sport Shop kit. Photo by John Gadrow.

Running Intangibles

Training Philosophy: You have to earn everything you get. There are no shortcuts. Work hard and be patient.

Prerace Ritual: Go in a cave. Travel to races alone or with husband. Stay quiet and focused.

Career High/Lowlights:

Highlights: 1. Breaking 3:00 for first time at Philadelphia 2008 (2:58:35) and having my sister and husband in the race – and having my husband set his PR that day too. 2. Breaking 3:00 six times, four times since turning 40 years old. 3. Winning the Boston Prep in Derry, NH in 2010.

Lowlights: Boston 2012. I never should have started the race in the heat. But once I start something, I won’t quit. I was given bib F116 and it was the 116th Boston Marathon. I went into several medical tents along the route and then at 30K Diona Fulton said to me, “Sometimes you need to quit and sometimes you just can’t. This is a just can’t moment. Anyone can run 8 miles. Go do it.” I honored the race, but it was one of my slowest marathons in my career.

Goals:

Break 2:55 in the Fall of 2013

Set a PR at Boston 2014

Proudest Moment: Being invited to the all women’s start for the first time at Boston 2010 and cracking the top 10 masters and running 2:56 and then sharing that moment with my husband who PR’d with 3:09.

Best Distance Runner of All Time: Paula Radcliffe

Local Running Role Model: Glenn Guillemette. Honorable mention to the local guys I have been running with for more than 15 years: Glenn, Peter, Mike, Dave, Jim, Ryan, Vinny, Paul, and of course my husband John Gadrow.

Oddest Thing That’s Ever Happened to You on a Run: Spotting the albino deer on our morning run after doubting its existence despite numerous reported sightings by Dave.

Footnote: As a female masters runner in New England, I am inspired by the talent. We are wise, tough, and determined competitors.

 

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