When Woodland history teacher Deb Flaherty was 11 years old she started running her schools cross-country team.

Flaherty continued to run on cross country and track teams throughout her teenage years.

“Running was just always something I did as a kid, for exercise and for fun,” said Flaherty.

When Flaherty was a freshman in college, she went out for the track team at the University of Connecticut.

“It was such an intense program, that running stopped being fun,” said Flaherty.

She joined the Rugby team at UCONN, in place of track, but she never stopped running.

“After college and having kids  running became my ‘me time’,” said Flaherty, “While I run I can think, day dream, even lesson plan.”

Over the years Flaherty has competed in a number of road races, 5K’s and even a few half marathons.

This summer Flaherty began training to run in her first marathon.

“Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list,” said Flaherty.

Over the summer, Flaherty began running for more extended periods of time than she previously did.

“One day I ended up running 15 miles and that’s when I really started looking at marathon training schedules,” said Flaherty.

Based on the training that Flaherty was already doing, she decided to sign up for the Hartford Marathon, a 26.2-mile race that will take place on October 12.

“My main goal for the race is to finish it,” Flaherty joked. “I’m really not trying to race anyone or go for a time, I just want to do it for me.”

Flaherty also plans to support the Run for a Revolution, an annual road race sponsored by the club Woodland Worldwide, through her training for the marathon. The marathon and the Run  for Revolution, which Flaherty helped establish five years ago, will be held on the same day.

“It was a really hard choice for me to pick between the two,” said Flaherty.

Flaherty ultimately chose to go ahead with her training for the marathon and has tied in supporting the Run for Revolution through her running.

“I started a fundraising page called 26.2 for a Revolution, so I can still play a role in the run,” said Flaherty. “My heart will most defiantly be here at Woodland on the day of my race.”

Visit LINK HERE to donate to Flaherty’s 26.2 for a Revolution and support Woodland Worldwide’s annual Run for a Revolution.