The Friday before Laurie Decker left for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, several of her special-needs students and their teacher held a pep rally for her.

"They gave me encouragement. It was really a 'Kodak moment,'" Decker says.

MR's 2003 Female Masters Runner of the Year remembers this pep rally as a highlight of her season. "I thought of it at Mile 20, when the marathon was getting hard," says Decker. "Their encouragement helped me through."

Camaraderie -- human connections -- got Decker started as a runner seven years ago, at age 36, and continues to be important. She and her husband, Kevin, inherited this odd passion from their children. When Eric and Erin began running cross country for coach Dave Foley's Cadillac High School team, their parents enjoyed the vigor and togetherness shared by team members. Soon, Mom and Dad were hoofing it out there too.

Decker also loves running because "it helps the body and the mind. When you're out there, you get thoughts. It helps creativity, gives you confidence. You feel better about everything in life."

But make no mistake: this magazine's 2001 Female Master of Year and overall Runner of the Year in 2002 is more than a "fun runner."

"I'm told I'm quiet, till I get in the races," Decker says. "I have a lot of determination and am competitive.

"Whatever I do, I strive to do well," she says.

Decker credits some of her success to other runners, such as Robin Sarris Hallop and Laura Ankrum. "Competing with good runners helps make you better," she declares.

Decker's finishes in the six MR Series races she entered last year tell the tale. She was first Michigan women's master at the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K (1:44:23); third open female and second master at the Allen Park 8K (31:09); second state women's master in the Crim 10 Mile (1:05:02); second open female and first master at the Cadillac 10K (39:18); first open female at the Kensington Challenge 5K (18:33); and top state master, third Michigan female at the Free Press Marathon (3:03:23).

The Freep was her second marathon. At her first, Traverse City's Bayshore last May, she qualified for Boston in 3:01:27. "I'm hooked on the marathon now," she says.

Also in store for 2004 are relays. "Fred Vanhala (of Front Line Racing Team) asked me to run a few," says Decker. "I'm excited about that too."

To keep things fresh (and fast), she and Kevin incorporate variety in their training. They do hills, trails, speed work and long runs, taking advantage of a "trail system" through the woods steps outside their door.

Decker also runs intervals of 400 and 800 meters on the track. She follows this regimen "most of the year, with some down time" for recovery. After the Free Press, she didn't run at all for three weeks.

Decker seems to have found a formula that works for her, mixing determination and discipline with fun.

"I'm not afraid to compete," says Decker. "Win or lose, it brings out the best in me.

"That's difficult to discover unless you try."

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mail at RMarin6424@aol.com. MR