It has been four years since Marie Davenport did any serious training in running, yet somehow she looks as fast as ever. Supposedly slowed by the responsibilities of mothering two young children, the former Olympian's legs seem resistant to rust as she keeps flying by the competition.

Marie, a Guilford resident and a citizen of Ireland, has had a long and storied running career since coming to the United States in 1993. A collegiate standout, international competitor, and an Olympian, Marie has built her life around carving up the pavement and doing so with great success. Most recently, she recorded the best female finish in the history of the Guilford Frosty 5K by coming in second place, a result that may thrust her back to the Olympic stage in the 2012 Summer Games.

"No, I don't miss the competitive side, not really, not anymore. I know how hard I have to work to get at that level and I've done that for years," says Marie, 37. "Now I'm just having fun, trying to go out and have fun, so I really don't miss it from that standpoint. I ran all my life since I was 17 through college until I was 33 or 34. You have to make a lot of sacrifices along the way with training and racing. I'm very happy with what I accomplished."

Growing up in a small town in Ireland, athletic avenues were limited, especially for young girls. Like most of her peers, Marie found her way on to the local running club, both a social and athletic outlet. Her success was quickly noticed across the pond as Providence College offered Marie a scholarship to come compete as a Friar. During her collegiate days, Marie was a 10-time All-American who won indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships and was a Big East Champion in the 5K and 10K. Also at Providence, Marie her husband and has lived along the Connecticut shoreline ever since.

Marie would go on to represent Ireland in two Summer Olympics, racing in the 5,000 meters in Atlanta in 1996 and then the 10,000 in Greece in 2004. Caught up in all the training it took to reach the highest of stages at the time, Marie now looks back on those days with fond memories.

"Now I appreciate it more that I could compete in the Olympics; it was just an amazing experience to represent your country," she says. "As a kid, you always watch the Olympics for all the different sports, but never imagine you'd be there one day yourself. I did and actually now I can reflect back and just be happy to have competed twice for Ireland. Being there and part of the experience is every athlete's ultimate goal."

Also running in multiple European and World Championships throughout her career, Marie became a professional runner after leaving Providence, receiving sponsorships from the likes of New Balance and Reebok. Though the free gear was always accepted with open arms, Marie says that without those sponsors there was no way she should have dedicated the time it took to become a pro.

"To compete internationally, it is a full-time job, and being sponsored allowed me over those years to pursue that dream," says Marie. "Financially, everyday is a commitment to try to qualify for a race. You win prize money and get appearance fees and so it is to good compete professionally when you are racing well. When you are not, it is tough."

Marie is now a mother of a four-year-old and an eight-month-old, putting running on the backburner, yet while she is no longer training professionally, Marie still logs the hours on the road in hopes to qualify for the Ireland marathon team at this year's Summer Games. And as evidenced by her finish at the Frosty 5K, running for Marie is a lot like riding a bike as she still has her skills, finishing second overall and first in the female competition, just three seconds behind the overall winner.

"I always heard about the Frosty, but it never worked in my schedule so this year I definitely planned on running it for a few months out," Marie says. "It was a great day and that is probably why I ended having a good time because the conditions were amazing. It was a great race and a lot of fun meeting random friends and hanging out before and afterwards. I was really happy to break 17 minutes; that was my fastest time in a few years."

Guilford Parks and Recreation Director Rick Maynard was stunned when he saw Marie coming down the final stretch neck-and-neck with the winner Justin Torrellas.

"I have never seen a female this close to the overall finish," said Maynard.

Marie boasts many race finishes like the one she posted at the Frosty, holding a half-marathon record in Boston, winning the Providence Downtown 5K, and also taking first in the Niantic half-marathon this past year. And raising her family in Guilford might be the perfect place for someone as fleet as foot as Marie. After all, Guilford features one of the best cross-country programs in the state and surely Marie can give them some sound advice.

Says Marie: "As a young runner, it is important it stays fun, especially in high school. It is definitely competitive, and in some ways an individual sport as well as team sport, but I think it is important to go out and have fun. You can't get too caught up in the training and stress of competing."