Spotlight on Claire Krummenacher: Winner of the Hidden Gem Half Marathon

Claire Krummenacher may be new to the Fleet Feet Racing Team, but she’s already making waves in the Chicago running community. A determined athlete with a passion for improvement, Claire’s journey from marathoner to half-marathoner is nothing short of inspiring. In this blog, we’ll get to know Claire, her recent experience as the women's overall winner at the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, and how she’s using racing to sharpen her skills.

Believe it or not, this is Claire’s first year running with the Fleet Feet Racing Team. While new to the team, Claire is no stranger to competitive racing. In fact, she’s run an impressive three marathons before even attempting her first half-marathon. While most runners start their journey with shorter distances, gradually building up to the marathon, Claire took the opposite approach. Her half-marathon debut came earlier this year at the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 in June, and just a few months later, she tackled her second half at the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, becoming the women's overall winner of the race in the process.

Claire’s decision to run the Hidden Gem Half Marathon was strategic. She wanted to use the race as an “indicator” for her goal time at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. But it wasn’t just about hitting a specific time — Claire also wanted to sharpen her mental toughness and practice pacing herself, especially when it came to achieving negative splits (a racing technique where you run the second half of the race faster than the first).

Executing a race plan is always a challenge, even for experienced runners, but Claire saw Hidden Gem as the perfect opportunity to put her skills to the test. Going into the race, Claire’s goal was to beat her June half-marathon time and break the 1:20 mark. However, on race day, she pushed herself even harder, aiming for a time closer to 1:18, a goal that would indicate she was on track for a 2:45 marathon. By the 10K mark, Claire found herself in a fast-paced group of runners. Rather than holding back, she made the bold decision to hang with the pack and see where it would take her. This decision led her to achieve a time she had once thought impossible.

What was the best part of race day for Claire? From a racing perspective, it was the immense confidence boost she gained from hitting her target time. Running with a supportive group of runners helped Claire push her limits and proved how powerful community can be in individual sports.

But the day wasn’t just about racing. September 7th was Claire’s birthday, and she celebrated by hanging out with friends from the Chicago running scene. As much as the day was about setting goals and pushing herself, it was also about enjoying time with her community and soaking in the post-race joy.

Though this is Claire’s first year with the Fleet Feet Racing team, she’s already shown incredible dedication, talent, and a desire to grow as a runner. Her story reminds us that racing is about more than just hitting times — it’s about testing your limits, learning from every experience, and finding joy in the journey. Here’s to Claire, her impressive start with the racing team, and what promises to be an exciting future with Fleet Feet!