Competitor bio:

Shirley is excited to run WMC and raise awareness and funds for the Orthopaedic Institute for Children (ortho-institute.org) (oic.convio.net/777) in Los Angeles, a non-profit that provides care, regardless of ability to pay, for children with musculoskeletal disorders. She has finished 16 marathons and numerous half marathons in the seven years since she started running. She counts the Chicago and Vancouver marathons as her favorite races this far. Shirley recently earned her PhD in Education from USC and when she is not running she can be found hiking and scuba diving in far off places, all the while working on her photography skills. WMC will be by far her most challenging race to date. Upon completion, Shirley aims to train for an ultra marathon, an Ironman, climb Kilimanjaro and continue to run and raise money for charitable causes for as long as her legs can carry her. Shirley is proudest to be mom to her daughters, Isabel and Claire.