It took Karen Bordage just three marathons to break the magic three-hour barrier ? and now the 37-year-old wants to go even faster.

The former chartered accountant and now stay-at-home mum, who has lived on the Island for 12 years, joined an elite group of Bermudian female runners when she completed last weekend?s Chicago Marathon in two hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds.

?I couldn?t quite believe it,? said Bordage, who shaved more than 16 minutes of her times for last year?s Chicago Marathon and the International Race Weekend event this year.

?I was working towards that time but I was shocked when I actually did it. I have been free from injury and able to devote time to training and that has obviously made a lot of difference.

?Now I want to get faster, I?ll probably do New York next year because it is such a big one and maybe another one if I get a chance.?

In January, she is more likely to run the half-marathon, a distance which she has completed in around one hour, 29 minutes, because there ?is more competition?.

Bordage, originally from Canada, ran at high school and college but her interest waned after the age of 21 when she became more devoted to her career.

But having two children, she took up the sport again ?just to keep in shape? and hasn?t looked back since.

She has run in two May 24 Marathon Derbies ? ?it is such a fun race, I just love it? ? although has missed the last couple of years through injury.