My name is Marci (aka Flash) and here is my story. When I first started running, my kids were too young to leave alone so Paul (Mr Xctmnt) and I ran up and down our gravel driveway. There were some evenings where we ran for almost two miles…in the driveway. My first 5K was the Mocker Beverage Run in 2003 and to this day, it has been my fastest time (I was scared to death). I’ve run dozens of 5Ks, a few 10Ks and a couple of half marathons in the years since then. My first triathlon was a Groovy Girl Tri in Alexandria and I’ve gone on to participate in a dozen sprint triathlons around the state. I’m not very good at it but I enjoy it and I do it because I can.

Why do I run? I run because my mom thinks it’s neat, my father in law always tells me how good I look when I run by their house and because I love to eat Big Macs, pizza and dark chocolate. I run because I want to set a good example for my boys and I know a lot of women my age (and younger) who think they can’t run and they won’t even try. I run because it’s something I can share with my husband and on those week-end morning runs when our paths cross on Old Settlement Road, we always meet in the middle of the road and give each other a high five.

Committing myself to training for and completing a full marathon will be my greatest personal challenge and I’ll do it the year I turn 40 (isn’t that cool?!). I chose this marathon because I’ll be running with greater purpose and because I know my Running on Faith teammates will give me encouragement I need to get through the next 7 months.