Featured I.D. Gallery

Dawn Cromer

Currently running in:

Adrenaline GTS 10

HVAC Seamless LS

Where do you live?: Charlottesville, VA

Day job: Real Estate Agent, Keller Williams Realty; Director of Marketing, Charlottesville Running Company

When did you become a Brooks I.D. Member?: January 2009

Date of birth: November 24, 1979

High School: Woodbridge Senior High School (Woodbridge, VA)

College: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Personal Record(s): 3,000m steeplechase - 9:59; 1500 - 4:22; 3k - 9:38; 5k - 16:21

Events Currently Training For: I’m training for having our first baby! Due April 1st!

Miles run/week: Currently about 30. Training has toned down a bit with a little one on the way. Body doesn’t operate like I want it to!

Favorite Brooks shoes and apparel?: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Adrenaline! Apparel – HVAC Seamless Long Sleeve

Why do you run?: For the last 10 years I’ve been running in my own bubble, competing at the collegiate level for five years and at the elite level for another five years. Now I’m running to be a part of everything outside of that bubble. It gives me a lot of joy to meet local runners around town, listen to their goals, and go for a run with them. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with other runners of all abilities to inspire them to get a step closer to their goals. During a group speech I once said to “run every race like your last” and a year later a woman told me that one phrase that I said made all the difference to her since then. She’s improved her times each race and she has had more fun racing then she ever had before. I am gaining a new and different perspective on the sport other than the level I’ve known it to be for so long.

Who inspires you?: No one in particular.

The best thing about being an I.D. Member (besides the discount): Being a role model and example of a product and company that understands runners from head to toe! Being a Brooks ID Member allows me the freedom to always portray Brooks as the leading running company that fully encompasses the “runner.” Plus it gives me even more privilege to brag about what a great company and product they are!

When did you start running?: 6th Grade when my PE Teacher told me I was the fastest 6th grade female at school in the mile and I should try out for the track team.

What challenges do you face as a runner?: I think the biggest challenge is myself. I hold myself accountable to high expectations and if those expectations are not met, I become my own worst enemy.

What do you like to do when you're not running?: Sell houses, direct multiple road and trail races throughout the year, talk about how to be an active runner on the local radio station, watch "Survivor" with my husband, take my golden retriever to the lake to go swimming,

Favorite race: The 10k on the track – I’ve never raced one but I enjoy watching them. It doesn’t matter where a runner is at any point throughout the race, anything can happen. Nothing is given over that distance making it an exciting race to always watch on the track. All the spectators who leave the stadiums when the 10k starts just don’t know what they’re missing!

Favorite run: Panorama Farms in Charlottesville. It’s a 850-acre farm with 8 miles of cut-grass trails and rolling hills with 26 miles of wooded trails around it. I do workouts, long runs, and easy runs at Panorama and no matter what the pain level of training is that I’m doing on any given day, it will always be the most serene place that I love to run. It’s also a challenging terrain so it always keeps my efforts honest. It is the most picturesque and beautiful place to train and I bask in all of its glory through rain, snow, wind, and sunshine.

Favorite pre- and post-race foods: Pre-race: oatmeal (not instant), two pieces of cinnamon raisin toast, and a cup of English Breakfast tea. Post race: Chocolate milk.