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The Cros-Lex elementary physical education teacher and varsity cross country and track coach, finished an impressive 27th overall in the women's division of the Detroit Marathon. She turned in a time 3:17.15.

"I was trying to keep it a secret," smiled Shaw on her finish. "My big goal, though, because I said "I think I'm tough', was to go for 3:15."

That she didn't quite reach that time, was not too disappointing, since most of the time she runs for fun with husband Rick and a few friends, who also competed in the marathon.

"We get together every Sunday, get a babysitter, and do our long run thing," said Shaw.

"We've worked the last seven months at doing long runs." She later added, "We've been training harder just the last three months.

"It's tough. Training is tough because of my schedule," Shaw said. After school, she coaches her very successful girls cross country team. She does her soccer mom routine, too, for her 11-year-old daughter. The Shaws also have a seven-year-old daughter.

Running with her husband has become her time away from her jobs as teacher, coach and mother.

"It's our time together to do something healthy for us," she noted. Along with Rick, friends Terry Shell and Dan Yankee are running mates. "The most fun is training with those guys. We laugh a lot. But, the day of the marathon is tough."

Shaw ran the Detroit Marathon two years ago with her husband and friends, but it was a more casual outing, if 26.2 miles can be casual.

"Then, last year I ran with Rick for the first half of the race and then ran the last by myself and I went 3:31."

Shaw's all out effort this year was proof that she is Ôtough.'

The Detroit course starts downtown, goes across into Canada on the Ambassador Bridge and back to the U.S. through the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel. After winding around the downtown area, the course heads to Belle Isle before finishing back in the heart of the city.