Gretchen Read – Resolved to do everything she can to be the best she can be
While Gretchen Read always maintained a healthy and active lifestyle she didn’t become a competitive runner until age 50, when her husband realized her potential and forged her signature on a race application. After not talking to him for a couple of weeks she went on to become one of Maine’s premier master’s road racers. Since turning competitive she has run 113 races with 108 masters or age group wins and 5 second place finishes. The majority of her races equaled or beat the National Qualifying Standards for National Rankings as established by the USA Track and Field Association.
Based on Age-Graded results, which allows runners to judge their performance against any and all others without bias to age or sex, she had 1 world class, 14 national class, and 1 regional class achievement levels in 16 Beach to Beacon races. She was the first overall age-graded runner at the 1994 Yarmouth Clam Festival and 1995 Physical Therapy 8k. She won the 1995 Doc’s Tavern 3 miler out right at age 52 in 18:18. Her 1994 Presidential 5 Miler time of 33:33 was listed on the “All Time Ranking” list of best performances by a 50+ women in the US.
In the years 1995, 1997 and 1998, New England Runner ranked her first among Maine female runners in the 50-54 age group and second, fifth and third, respectively for those same years in New England. In 1996 Running Times awarded her honorable mention for women 50-54 best age-group runners in the world. She was the Female Maine Track Club Runner of the Year in 1995 and 2003. She had the world’s 9th and 10th place finishes (age group 50-54) in “On The Roads” in 1995 Female Road Race Performances in Order of Equivalent 10km Time.
Born in Auburn and residing in Portland, Gretchen is married with two daughters and was so dedicated to volunteerism and building a solid foundation for her daughters to enhance their early experiences that staff in the Portland Schools created an annual volunteer award in her name. She also is dedicated to activism and participation in the political process having worked on Senate and Gubernatorial races.
P.R’s:
- 5k Women’s Distance Festival 1996 (19:14) @ age 54
- 5m/8K: Pat’s Pizza 1995 (31:23) – Live Your Dreams 1996 (31:23) @ age 53
- 10K: Great Pumpkin 1996 (39:44) – LL Bean 1996 (40:21) @ age 54
- 10 Miler: Bowdoin And Back 1995 (66:41) @ age 53
- Half Marathon: Maine Half Marathon 1996 (1:30:36) @ age 54
Maine Running Hall of Fame 