Laurie Decker cover photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios.

Laurie Decker, our magazine's Runner of the Year, describes 2002 as exciting, but bittersweet.

Most of it was sweet.

The 43-year-old Cadillac resident finished among the top three women masters in every race she ran, including the giant Fifth Third River Bank 25K and Crim 10-miler. Decker was first Michigan master and third overall in both. In the smaller Bayshore 10K and Mt. Baldhead 5K, Decker placed first among women of every age.

For all her exhilarating wins, Decker also experienced a loss. In August, just before Crim, she learned that a drug runner had murdered her friend, Kris Eggle, a 28-year-old national-park ranger.

Laurie Decker took second overall in the Milford 30K. Photo by Carter Sherline, Frog Prince Studios

"Kris was an inspiration when I started running," Decker remembered. "He was always encouraging, kind to others. He was a role model for me."

Decker trained hard the week before Crim, maybe too hard. "Because of Kris's death, I was very emotional," she said. "I ran as hard as I could on the trails behind my house." Her 1:06:44 at Crim was almost two minutes slower than last year's clocking. "I didn't do justice to Kris's memory at the Crim," she said. "But I know that he would have encouraged me to continue to compete."

Compete, she did. Decker set PRs last year at the Bayshore 10K (38:35), 12K, Mackinac Island 8-Miler (52:03), Volkslaufe 20K (1:25:45), Dexter-to-Ann Arbor Half-Marathon (1:24:32), River Bank Run 25K (1:41:05) and her longest race ever, the Milford Labor Day 30K (2:09:25).

"Dexter-to-Ann Arbor was my best race ever," said Decker. "From the start, I felt comfortable and relaxed. I didn't feel I was running hard at all."

She battled Sandy Stafford during much of the race. "I had to make up about 20 yards in the last half-mile," she recalled. Decker did it, passing Stafford near the finish line to claim third overall and the masters crown.

Decker followed Dexter-Ann Arbor with another masters victory at the Rose Run 10K (40:36) and two at Reeds Lake, where she swept the 5K (18:42) and 10K (40:33).

Her most-challenging race was the Volkslaufe 20K on the Fourth of July. "It was so brutally hot it was hard to focus on running a good time. By the end, I wanted it to be over," said Decker, who picked up another PR and masters win anyway.

The Milford 30K marked uncharted terrain for Decker, whose longest previous race was a 25K. "The Milford hills made it even more challenging," she remembered. "I always push myself and sometimes start way too fast. But at Milford, I started well and really hoofed it the last five miles. I didn't let up until I was across the line."

Decker took second overall, behind masters legend Cindy Keeler of Claremont, Fla. That race gave her the confidence to train for the Bayshore Marathon next year.

"I'd like to focus on a few select races in 2003," said Decker. "To get my times down, I plan to beef up my training miles."

Decker hopes to increase her average mileage from 35 last season to more than 50. It helps that she and her husband, Kevin, live near an expansive, serpentine trail system. "I can go out my side door straight into 20 miles of wilderness," said Decker. "I haven't come close to exploring the whole trail system. It's a great place to train for a marathon."

She started running seven years ago, inspired by her children, Eric, now 23, and Erin, 22. In her quest for excellence, Decker draws further motivation from runners such as Eggle and masters competitor Robin Sarris-Hallop. "I've tried to model myself after Robin," Decker said. "I have great respect for her. Robin is disciplined, tough and competitive. When she wins, which is often, she wins with class. She's a great ambassador for our sport."

Decker also draws strength from quotes such as this from composer John Cage: "If someone says can't, that shows you what to do."

"Some people think masters can't compete well with younger runners," said Decker. "I like to show them I can!"