This week, we’re sharing our conversation with Claire Green, a member of the Peninsula Distance Club, Tracksmith Amateur Support Program athlete, and substitute math teacher. Claire had a breakout 10,000 race at the Sound Running meet back in March – her first crack at that distance. We talk about balancing training with a full-time job. From winters on the treadmill in Milwaukee to racing sub-32 in her first-ever 10,000m, she’s redefining what it means to pursue personal excellence with joy, self-awareness, and community support. Claire will be competing in the 10,000 meters at the USATF National Outdoor Championships on Thursday, July 31st.
Some highlights from our conversation:
❄️ Treadmill miles and mental training—what winter in Milwaukee taught her about focus and flexibility
⏱️ Swore she’d never run a 10K… until she ran a sub-32 in her first-ever attempt on the track
🧠 How she trained her brain as much as her body to handle the longer distance
😌 Comparing the 5K to the 10K—why the former is all pain and the latter is all flow
🎓 How her NCAA experience centered joy and intrinsic motivation rather than pressure and performance
🏃♀️ Building her relationship with running through family, coaches, and donuts at Nike Cross Champs
💬 “There was not a second of the race where I doubted what I was doing in that moment.”
👕 The power of a Tracksmith Amateur jersey—feeling part of a team without having a sponsor
📞 How a cold call to coach Dena Evans led to joining Peninsula Distance Club, a team of “the kindest, hardest-working people” she’s ever known
Follow Claire on Instagram and Strava.
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Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.
Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.