SLIPPERY ROCK — When Leslie Kramer turned 30, she wanted a change.

Boy, did she get one.

Kramer reassessed her life and decided drastic measures were needed.

She quit her job before enrolling at SlipperyRock University to study physical education and travel.

And, nearly 10 years after she last participated in the sport in college, Kramer joined the cross country team.

The 1995 Slippery Rock Highgraduate and avid runner was reinventing herself.

"It was kind of a midlife crisis for me," Kramer said.

"I always wanted to go back to school. I got pregnant when I was 20, so I had to quit to support my daughter. It's always been a goal of mine. I just needed a kick in the butt."

That swift boot came in May when she blew out 30 candles on her cake. Time was slipping away, and if she was going to return to school and competitive athletics, she had to act fast.

In a matter of months, she was back in class and back on a cross country team.

"I'm a lot more mature now," Kramer said. "I was nervous about it, but I knew that was want I wanted."

Kramer ran cross country at Slippery Rock High, but she said she was only a mediocre runner, even though she qualified for the PIAA meet her senior year.

She ran cross country for California (Pa.) University for a year, then transferred to The Rock for her sophomore season.

She dropped out of school when she became pregnant with her now 8-year-old daughter Alyssa.

Kramer said her running improved after she gave birth to her daughter.

"Maybe I had more tolerance for pain," Kramer said. "After I gave birth, that's when my times started to go down. I think I became more dedicated."

Kramer kept her competitive juices flowing by running in road races and marathons.

She's run in 10 marathons, including two in Boston. Her best time is 3 hours, 5 minutes.

Kramer also was an assistant cross country coach at Slippery Rock High for several years. She is now teammates at The Rock with several of the athletes she coached.

"Early on in my running career, (Kramer) made a great impact on me," said SRU sophomore and Slippery Rock High graduate Emily Skoczlas.

"She's an inspiration to me," Skoczlas added. "She's a real strong, experienced runner and she still likes to have fun."

Some NCAA red tape is all that is keeping Kramer off the cross country trail.

Kramer is required to return all the money she has won in road races during her hiatus before she is cleared to compete.

It's been an arduous process, but Kramer hopes to get back on the course this weekend when SRU takes on Indiana (Pa.).

"That is a little bit of a nuisance," said SRU cross country coach John Papa. "Our people here are working on it hard. She's dying to get back out there."

Papa is counting on Kramer to help the team.

She figures to be one of the top five runners once she is cleared to return.

"She'll be in the mix," Papa said. "It takes a lot of courage to do what she is doing. I know I wouldn't want to have to study and write papers at 30."

But Kramer is looking forward to all that college life has to offer.

She hopes what she has done will inspire others in a similar situation.

"I guess I'm doing pretty good," Kramer said. "Not too bad for an old lady."