Being the bearer of unexpected good news is always a pleasure, but when the recipient is Nancy Cassel, it is truly an honor. When I phoned to interview her, Nancy didn't know she was MR senior-division points leader, and was not sure of the races included in the scoring. Nevertheless, she had dominated the point tallies and was thrilled to be this year's champ. Nancy's 2002 season started strong with a stellar showing at May's Fifth Third River Bank 25K. Though her winter mileage was lower than she had hoped, she met her goal of running better than her last year's 1:45, finishing in 1:44:53 (second Michigan master and almost 21 minutes faster than the next over-50 woman). She also scored well at the Crim 10-miler in August, finishing in 1:07:57 despite not feeling well the week before the race. As she walked somewhat reluctantly to the starting line, Nancy told herself, "Listen, if you decided to run this race, stop the negative thinking and do your best." She did, finishing third Michigan master and winning her age division. Nancy was also the second masters woman at the Jackson Rose Run 10K in 41:31, though her season's best 10K came at the Ferndale Foot Frolic in 40:31. She was also pleased with her 19:38 5K at the Race for the Cure in Detroit. Nancy's performances are impressive in their own right, but what makes her a true champ is the sportsmanship and encouragement she shows others. I have witnessed and been the recipient of her kind congratulations at the finish line, despite the fact Nancy, at a comparable age, would have finished minutes earlier. Even at 52, she is often the overall women's or masters winner at many races. Nancy started running the week of her 31st birthday with two goals: to run one mile without stopping, and then to run 17. Why 17? "One of my friends ran that far and it seemed beyond comprehension," Nancy laughed. By the early '90s, she was a national-level elite runner, turning in masters PRs of 17:02 for 5K, 34:08 for 10K, 54:08 for 15K, 1:32:13 for 25K and a 2:47:32 marathon. She was Runner's World magazine's 1992 Women's Masters Runner of the Year, placing second in both '91 and '93. Nancy moved to Michigan in fall 1992, so many here know little of her accomplishments. Though she works full-time as a data-base administrator, she still runs 40 to 45 miles and makes time for Pilates exercises every week. Nancy still loves to race and does so often. But like many older runners, she has struggled some adjusting to slower times. Though she makes it look easy, "I have slowed down kicking and screaming," she confesses, and often looks to her husband of almost four years, Ed Cassel, to provide "a wonderful balance." Nancy reminds herself of persons who can't run or look to her as a role model, and feels thankful for the success she's achieved, past and present, and for the "new dimension running has opened" for her. She sets new goals of placing as high in open and masters standings as possible, putting aside concerns about running slower than she once did. This fall Nancy ran her first-ever relay, joining the winning women's team at the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon. She had such a good time she hopes to be part of a team again. After discussing our shared love of racing and the struggle to balance frustrations of slowing down with appreciation for the blessings of achievement, Nancy sent me a poem she wrote on receiving the Motor City Striders Club Champion Award in 2000.