Claire Blanton is definitely a quiet force on the local running scene. She not only has competed or is training for every race in the sport, she crushes them, often placing high in her age group. Claire possesses speed, endurance, experience and determination. She completed her very first ultra marathon (50K) over the weekend of May 19-20th, placing 5th in her age group.
Blanton began running her freshman year in high school. She ran cross country and track all four years. Claire had a spinal fusion at 15 years old but continued to run three months later for track her junior year. She has completed three marathons to date (including Asheville and Kings Mountain, two of the toughest around) and has two more scheduled this year. In July she will run the Jack and Jill marathon in Washington State in hopes of a 3:40 PR to qualify for Boston. Then in October, Claire is running the Chicago marathon. She hopes to qualify or win the lottery into New York in 2017.
Blanton would love to continue running forever but it will depend on how her back holds up. Her shoe of choice are Hokas for the past three and a half years. Claire usually purchases her shoes at REI because she's a member and receive wonderful discounts and money back every year.
Claire is a solo runner, running whenever she can. She improve speed and endurance by simply running. Nothing special, just pounding pavement. She would love to coach others but being a single mother with an active child makes it a no go. However, she did coach her daughter for cross country this year as she was the only runner from her school. Claire has also have run races with her patients at Greenville Memorial Hospital to assist them with goals or safety. She also attends a boot camp group most mornings at 5am before work. Claire started cycling last year and rode 252 miles over 3 days for the Alzheimers association.
Runners often have a prerace schedule/ritual. Blanton's is different depending on location. If she's away from home, she gets everything ready the evening before. She used to get prerace jitters but that seems to not be an issue lately with longer distances.
Her advice for a new runner is to never give up. Always set new goals whether it's a distance to complete or a new PR.
Claire is very phenomenal and humble. She doesn't run a lot of races but she is in the front of most that she does run. I'm pleased and blessed to know her. I predict she will be at Boston and/or New York within two years so look out.
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