I was introduced to Claire through my first Why We Run IV post with the brilliant Nicola Marshall and I am so glad we were - we could have talked for hours. We then realised we were already following each others running antics on Instagram. Thank you Claire for a really enjoyable chat.
From Commercial to Coaching - A Career Reimagined
Claire’s career began in the commercial world, starting on Diageo’s graduate scheme before transitioning into HR through a chance secondment. “They offered me breadth - either finance or HR,” she recalls. “And there was no way I was going into finance!” What began as a temporary project became a career-defining move, helped by a forward-thinking HR Director who saw the power of Claire’s commercial insight. From business partnering to talent strategy and eventually launching her own consultancy and coaching practice, Claire has built a career rooted in people, purpose, and perspective.
Running Before Running Was ‘a Thing’
Claire’s relationship with running began long before anyone spoke about mental health or wellbeing. “It was my escape,” she shares. “As a teenager dealing with family challenges, I’d just head out the door. No agenda, just movement.” Travel deepened that habit - she recalls using running as a way to map new cities while backpacking in Australia, each route teaching her how to navigate, both practically and emotionally.
The Joy of Events, Not Races
Though she’d always been a runner, Claire didn’t enter her first organised event until years later. “Someone suggested a local 10K - the Cabbage Patch 10. I had no idea what I was doing. I walked to the start line from my house thinking, ‘What am I doing?’” But something clicked. Watching the range of runners around her, each with their own stride and story, Claire fell in love with the event atmosphere. “I’m not fast. I’m not chasing a PB. I just love the environment - the course is set, there’s a medal at the end, and it’s an achievement.”
Escapism, Reflection, and Resilience
Through every life stage, raising three young kids, commuting, working in high-pressure roles, running has remained a constant. “It’s my way of processing. Some runs are meditative, others are full of problem-solving,” she says. “I’ll come back with ideas or clarity I didn’t have when I left.” When stress peaks, running becomes her reset button. “I’m definitely a better person for being a runner,” she adds. “Even my husband will say, ‘Maybe go out for a run?’ - and he’s usually right!”
From Halves to Ultras - The Accidental Ultra Runner
After years of regular running and half marathons, Claire’s mileage crept up without her even noticing. “A friend said to me, ‘You know you’ve accidentally trained for an ultra?’ I laughed. But she was right.” In 2021, Claire ran her first ultramarathon, 50K at Goring Gap, despite never having run more than 13 miles before. “It was tough, and I loved it. I really loved it.” Since then, she’s embraced the world of long-distance trail running, injuries and all, and is back training for a marathon in September and another ultra in October.
Fitting It All In - Training with Intention
Claire’s secret to balancing ultra training with work and life? Planning. “I’ll admit, dinner might be an afterthought, but the run gets done,” she laughs. With her kids now teenagers, she’s embraced structure - strength work, stretching, Pilates, and plenty of early starts. “I even do my CPD on the bike while listening to webinars. If something’s important, you make space for it.”
What Running Brings to Work and Life
Running has changed how Claire operates professionally. “It’s helped me self-regulate, reflect, and see things from different angles,” she says. “I’m not naturally reflective, but when I run, thoughts come to the surface.” It’s also expanded her world, meeting new people on trails, hearing stories, seeing life through different lenses. And it’s made her braver. “That first ultra taught me that I can do hard things. So when I’m nervous about pitching to a client, I remind myself, I’ve done scarier.”
The Freedom to Slow Down
Perhaps most beautifully, running has taught Claire to embrace the journey. “I used to think walking meant failing. But trail running flips that on its head. You stop to eat, take photos, chat. It’s a moving picnic!” And in that way, it’s a metaphor for life. “It’s okay to slow down sometimes, to take it all in.”
At nearly 52, Claire is still showing up, on the trails, in her business, and for herself. “I might be not be the first person over the finish line, but I’ll be smiling. And I’ll have done it my way.”
Or as she puts it with a grin, “I’m known locally as the running wanker - and I wear that badge with pride.”