Two years ago, Amy Wing's road-racing season started strong, but came to a screeching halt in June due to a stress fracture in her toe.

Last year, nothing could stop her.

Wing, a 32-year-old physician assistant living in Grand Rapids, flew through race after race, snatching up PR's, victories and a 2001 Runner of the Year award along the way.

Wing, who also received her master's degree from Western Michigan University last year, first became exposed to road racing 23 years ago when she watched her dad compete in the Bobby Crim 10 Mile.

"That inspired me," says Wing, who grew up in Grand Blanc. "I was amazed that my dad could run that far."

Wing, who did not compete for a high school or college team, started running on her own 11 years ago. She began competing seriously after her move to Grand Rapids in the early '90s.

"Pretty much every year, I've PR'd somewhere," Wing points out. "But last year was by far my best year."

In 2001, Wing racked up PR's in the River Bank Run 25K (1:34:15) and the Crim 10 Mile (1:00:45), placing first among Michigan women at both races.

Her previous best Crim had been in 1999, when she took fifth among Michigan women (1:01:21). In the 2000 River Bank 25K, she finished runner-up among state women (1:36:43).

Last year, Wing also dramatically whittled down her 5K PR. In April, she clocked a 17:47 in the Pietro's 5K, finishing fourth overall among women. She dropped to 17:15 at the Brian Diemer 5K in June, good for third.

She also fared well in the half-marathon, winning the women's race at the Ludington Lakestride (1:21:48).

Wing didn't run a marathon last year. "I've run 3:01," she says. "I'd love to go under three hours in the near future."

She knows that someday her times will stop improving"I can't keep running PR's forever," she admits.

When or if that day comes, Wing has no plans to quit running. "I can't imagine not running," she says.