Pam Blair is a dog walker by trade, but running is where she earned acclaim in 2008.
The 28-year-old Andersonville resident is the owner of Pam's Pet Care, Inc. ( www.pamspetcare.com ) , which offers pet-sitting and midday dog walking on the North Side of Chicago.
And she was named the 2008 Female Runner of the Year by the Chicago Area Runners Association ( CARA ) .
"I placed first on the CARA women's circuit for the year and was told I was also one of the most improved runners on the circuit since the previous year," said Blair, who earned more points than any other woman over the course of the year at CARA's circuit races.
"There wasn't as much competition on the CARA women's circuit last year as there has been in previous years," Blair added. "I know where I stand in the local racing scene, and at this point in time, it's not at the top. So for me, the award represents my hard work and improvement over the past year, and means a whole lot to me from that perspective."
And it's all the more impressive considering she first started running in February 2007; her first race was in April of that year.
Blair competed in 22 races in 2008, of which 12 were CARA circuit races. She was the first female finisher at the Proud to Run 10K, the North Shore Half Marathon and the She's Got Sole 8K; ended up third at the Soldier Field 10-Mile; and wound up seventh at the Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon.
Blair, who graduated from Keene State College in 2003, ran her first marathon in 2008 in Chicago, finishing in 3:07.16 ( just over a seven minute-per-mile pace ) .
She is now training for the Boston Marathon, which takes place April 20.
She also is planning to compete this year in such CARA events as Proud to Run, March Madness, Shamrock Shuffle, Quarryman Challenge, Soldier Field 10-Mile, Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon, and possibly the Chicago Marathon, plus other 5K and 10K races.
"I'm excited to be able to represent the LGBT community through running, which seems to be a predominantly straight-dominated sport; at least in Chicago," she said. "I'm not sure if I'm the first openly queer woman to be named CARA Female Runner of the Year, but it would be interesting to find out. It means even more to me that I am representing vegan athletes."
Blair runs almost daily, tracking 70 to 80 miles per week. She also does three strength-training sessions per week.
"In the next two years I would like to run a marathon in under three hours, a 5K [ race ] in under 18 minutes, and a 10K in under 38 minutes," Blair said. "As far as long-term goals, currently, the only one I am set on is to keep enjoying running as long as possible."
And when not running, she's back on the walking front. For dogs, of course. And also addressing animal rights.
"I spend a lot of my free time educating people about animal abuse and animal rights," she said. "I do not consume or use any products that came from a once-living being, including meat, dairy, eggs, leather, wool, fur, etc."
Blair's other passions are cooking, cycling, hiking, reading and camping.
