Charlie Gadol: The (B)east Coast Trail Legend

In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Gadol for a thoughtful conversation that spans medicine, writing, trails, race directing and the long arc of a life shaped by curiosity and service. Charlie is a pathologist, recently retired after working in the field since 1988. A 1979 graduate of Yale College and a 1984 graduate of UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, his professional path also includes a degree in English from Rutgers and a master’s in writing and literature from Bennington, reflecting a lifelong engagement with both science and storytelling.

An avid hiker and trail runner, Charlie has become a cornerstone of the Catskills trail running and preservation community. He created and served as the race director for two iconic Catskills events, the 54-mile Manitou’s Revenge Ultramarathon and the Cat’s Tail Trail Marathon, and also directed the Sterling Furnace Race and the Pocantico Hill Marathon & Half Marathon, both fundraisers supporting the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. He is the Catskill Long Path Trail Chair and serves on the Board of Run Wild, Inc., where he is co-chair of the Advancement Committee, chair of the Policy Council, and a member of the Nominating and Strategic Planning committees.

We talk about how Charlie’s careers in medicine and writing have shaped his approach to endurance, leadership, and community building, and the responsibility that comes with stewarding trails and races. This chat explores what it means to give back to the places and communities that give us so much in return!

https://www.nynjtc.org/

https://www.runwildhv.org/

https://www.manitousrevengeultra.com/

https://pocanticohillsmarathon.com/

https://www.catstailmarathon.com/

https://www.nynjtc.org/long-path/