Laura Churchek, Mistress of Motion

I'm in my final year of physical therapy school at Duquesne. I started running freshman year to deal with the stresses of studying all the time. I would hit the track late at night to re-energize but I found I really enjoyed it. It has now become a part of who I am. I ran my first 5K in 2006 and from there I was hooked. I kept increasing the distance and trying to challenge myself to see how far I could push my body. I've run anything between the 5K and a 50 mile Ultra, but the marathon is by far my favorite distance. It takes dedication and hard work, but I think I do it for the challenge of those last 6 miles. That's when the real race starts and you see who has the most guts and pure determination. The Philadelphia Marathon will always have a special place in my heart: it was my first marathon in 2008 and I returned this year to secure a new PR of 3:16. As for other favorite races, every race offers a unique experience. The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon was another PR course for me; I ran a 1:30 and placed third female overall, a dream I had never achieved before. The NC half marathon was the first race I ran with my uncle, which gave me my first real taste of racing and competing. JFK 50 miler was a great experience dodging rocks and trains while seeing just how far it was humanly possible to push myself. I enjoy every aspect of this sport and I love being able to help fellow athletes accomplish their goals, whether it's beginning to run, coming back from an injury, or taking their training to the next level.