FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- Stephanie Sering began running when the camera told her to.

The native of Korea said she saw some photographs and couldn't figure out who was in them. When she was told her own image was captured in the pictures, Sering was less than pleased. "I was not happy with my weight," she said. "I didn't like the way I looked and wanted to change that."

In late 2004, Sering took up running and shed 60 unwanted pounds. Those results have encouraged her to remain an active runner ever since.

Now a U.S. resident, her streak continues this weekend with Sunday's Marine Corps Marathon. The race, she said, will be a challenge, but nothing she isn't prepared to tackle.

"I'm addicted to running," Sering said with a smile. "It's such a good experience for me. People are cheering for you, people are supporting you. I get a chance to meet new people and have fun."

Even though racing began as a way to stay in shape, Sering admits she has become more competitive.

"Sometimes I really want to win," she said, laughing. "In my mind, though, I know it's important for me to finish my goal and push myself every second with lots of energy to the finish line."

Sering's road to running is much easier with a support system in the workplace. She is a senior store associate with AAFES and works at the Class Six Shoppette on post. She said her supervisor, Assistant Manager Sharon Hudson, is very flexible to her training needs, along with Lionel Butler, AAFES Human Resources Manager.

"When I have to train, they're both good about letting me get out there and do it," Sering said. "They're very helpful, not just to me, but everyone who works there. They're reasonable."

She said she has signed up for races in the past but didn't immediately place it on her work schedule, but Hudson has been more than accommodating to allow her to train.

While she loves being a U.S. resident, Sering said she still finds herself homesick sometimes. "I have to live by American standards now, which are totally different than Korea," she said. "Sometimes, that's hard. All my stress goes into running. It frees my mind."

She said she knows her parents are proud of her back home. Her father, she said, loves the fact that she participates in the Marine Corps Marathon for a very personal reason. U.S. Marines assisted the family during the Korean War. "My family has always been grateful for that," she said. "They helped us, and this lets us give back to them."

Ultimately, Sering would love a chance to run the Boston Marathon, but said she feels she still has some work to do. "I'm not quite there yet," she said.

Whether she's ready for Boston or not, a healthier lifestyle and peace of mind still make Sering an athletic success.