2010 - "It was the Boston. How could I not finish?"

Mary Elaine Shirah

My Boston Marathon story is simple. All I had to do was run 26.2 miles. Oh, and be fast!

I grew up in the Alabama Children's Home in Troy. According to statistics and the high school guidance counselor, I was not exactly "going places." But as a teen, I was introduced to running by a houseparent, Mr. Grey. And that made all the difference. I have a type-A personality, and I used running as a way of escaping imperfections that plagued my life. In college, I ran for my sorority in Greek Week, and ran the track when I couldn't sleep. Which was a lot.

After college graduation, I married a football coach and had two children. I was teaching and coaching myself and before I knew it, no more 5k racing for me. I retired my shoes and dreams so that their dreams could live.

In 2000, we moved to the Shoals area. Eventually I began to run again. Running for stress, heartache, habit, and any other reason. I quickly re-entered the running circle, and was approached by some local runners training for a marathon. They asked me to join their group. I ran my first marathon in Memphis, Tennessee. That was about nine years ago. I was instantly addicted to endurance running.