Name: Shannon

City: NW DC (I'm a DC native)

Other Activities: I'm a book dork (I work in publishing) and I also write fiction for fun. I love to hike/ backpack/ travel. 

When did you first start running: I got started running really young; I ran a 5k when I was 7 years old.  I started going along on short runs with my mom when she was training for her first Marine Corps Marathon.

Featured Race Report: National Half Marathon:  I ran it two years ago (the 2nd year it was in existence) and we runners sang the national anthem to ourselves in the dark, and ran off after Mayor Fenty yelled, 'GO!'  The course this year was much more scenic.  It was pretty amazing to see the sunlight on the Capitol, with all the trees blooming, and to run down the middle of Constitution Ave on a spring morning...

Goals for 2007: My goals were to, 1) complete my first ever triathlon, not counting one I did when I was 8 years old (picture below); I just started riding in summer 2007, and 2) to improve my time in the Marine Corps Marathon. I achieved both, completing my first-ever tri, the General Smallwood International (I won my age group), and I knocked 35 minutes off my marathon PR and qualified for Boston by running a 3:28.

Goals for 2008: To run a PR at Boston, and to complete a half-iron distance triathlon, either this season or the next.

What helps motivate you to train/exercise: My sister is training for Ironman Florida right now, so it being a family pursuit helps keep me motivated.  I have a built in cheering squad, and people who really care about and understand the rewards of being active and why getting up at 4am for a race is a good idea.

Thoughts on having a coach: It's been great to get advice on training and racing (and stretching!) from someone who's knowledgeable and also makes the effort to get to know me personally and to learn what I want to achieve.  Also, I like that he encourages a community of athletes by holding group practices and bike rides if people want to join in and meet others with similar goals.