Local athlete excels in new sport

PALMER -- About two weeks ago Palmer junior Mary Brown strapped on her snowshoes for only the fourth time in her life. Brown went on to place second in the U.S. National Snowshoe Championships.

To Brown running is a subject that takes little thought, it comes naturally like the words she uses to describe her passion.

"It's a lifestyle," she said.

"I like people who run, it's a lifetime sport," she added.

When asked why, she shrugs her shoulders and in a mindframe opposite to Forest Gump she replies,"I just like to run."

Brown is a 4.0 student at Palmer High School. This year marks her third year in track. She likes to run the hurdles. This is also her second year running cross-country.

Snowshoeing began as an off-season way of conditioning her body for track and cross country.

Brown said she picked out a pair of snowshoes and this past Christmas got them.

"My parents are supporting but sometimes they're puzzled and say things like, Why do you run so much?'" Brown said.

Two weeks ago Brown was in Solitude Ski Resort just outside Salt Lake City, Utah to compete in the national championships. Brown finished second, but the success of her competition came after the pain of the race.

"After the race I didn't really think about where I placed, I was just thinking, 'Wow, I'm in a lot of pain,'" Brown said.

Prior to the National Snowshoe Championships Brown said she had never been in elevation higher than the elevation near home of 1,000 to 2,000 feet. In Utah, Brown was competing at around 8,500 feet.

Brown also competes in the Alaska Mountain racing series, and placed fourth last time at the Alyeska competition.

When asked to describe running in one word, Mary quickly said "stoic," moments later Brown came back with a different word, "intense."

"To me running is the best sport," Brown said.

"It brings a lot of satisfaction," she added.

Although a high school junior, Mary hasn't painted a clear picture of her future. When the idea of professional or Olympic status comes up, Brown plays it off as only wishful thinking.

When asked if running was a science, Brown agrees there this a lot involved with running, variables such as speed, distance and intervals play into the thought process of distance running. The mental side, Brown said, is always with you.

When running, "I think about homework," Brown said jokingly, "Yeah I think about homework and other ways to make myself better,"

When asked if running was an art, Mary shrugs if off as if she has never really thought about it.

"Maybe for some people but not me," Brown said.

"Prefontaine to me was the art. He ran every time as if it was his last, and that's amazing," Brown said.

Considering her reasons for success, Brown said, "I don't give up easy."