Editor’s note: Carre is originally from South Carolina, ran track at Villanova, and lived in Utah while working for an AmeriCorps teaching service program. She moved to Portland in 2008 and currently serves on the TRL board as Secretary.
1. How long have you been running and why did you start running? I ran my first track meet in the 3rd grade, but I didn’t start training and running competitively until 7th grade. I played basketball, and it was evident that I had both speed and endurance on the court. My dad ran local 5K road races, and entered me in my first road race when I was in the 5th grade. I won my age group and a local track coach told me that I had talent and should consider running track.
2. How long have you been part of TRL, and what drew you to the club in the first place? I joined TRL in 2012 after running for another club in town. I was drawn to TRL because of the
friendly people and team camaraderie.
3. What do you do when you’re not running (job, family, school…whatever it is you’d use to introduce yourself outside of running)? I am the mother of two girls, and I have been teaching for 17 years.
4. What’s your favorite distance/type of run (5K, half-marathon, marathon, ultras, relays, track, trail, etc.)? Currently, my favorite distance is the 5k-8k. I enjoy racing cross country and on the roads. But in my youth, I loved the mile!
5. Where is your favorite place to run in the greater Portland area? Forest Park & Lacamas Lake
6. What is your most memorable running experience? This is tough as there are so many memorable running experiences from high school to present. Placing 42nd and running a PR in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston is a highlight. I don’t consider myself a marathoner, so this was a big accomplishment. I also placed 14th at the 2007 USATF Club Cross-Country National Championships in Ohio. This was a race to remember as it was cold and snowing, and I didn’t even have a plane ticket for that race until 3 days before (that’s another story).
7. What’s the best running advice you’ve ever received? Don’t compare yourself to others; run the race that you were meant to run.
8. Tell us one fun fact, hidden talent, or something we don’t know about you, but should? I danced for a professional ballet company for seven years before giving up ballet for track. Maybe that’s why I was a graceful steeplechase runner. 🙂