Though Maureen Ackerly did not begin running until her mid 30s, she qualified for the Olympic Trials at the age of 39, winning this month's Napa Valley Marathon in 2:44:25.

Boston Athletic Association: You didn’t run in high school or college – when did you first become interested in running competitively?

Maureen Ackerly: I had run a few marathons recreationally in my 20’s. In my early 30’s, I was training for another marathon – Boston, in fact – when I met my future husband, who coached high school track. I asked him if he would give me a few tips. I eventually got injured (shin splints, basically) and never ran that spring in Boston. The following fall, I ran 3:08 in Richmond, a personal best by about 30 minutes and I felt great the entire race.

B.A.A.: Did you compete in other sports growing up?

M.A.: I have an older brother, so I was a bit of a tomboy. I swam and played softball and field hockey in high school, but athletics at the collegiate level was never on my radar screen.

B.A.A.: What led you to the marathon distance?