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On a clear and cool October afternoon, 14-year-old Julia Shapiro is laughing with teammates and running around the track during practice like any other member of the Quince Orchard cross country team.

As the Cougars' No. 5 runner, Shapiro is fulfilling her dream of running for a high school cross country program. But to understand how successful Shapiro has been early in her high school career, one must know what she has had to overcome.

"One day in math I had a really bad headache," said Shapiro. "I couldn't see straight and I went home. My mom took me to a neurologist and got an MRI and then later that day or the next day they said something was there."

In October 2006, Shapiro was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

"It was very scary," said Shapiro. "When I first found out I was eating pudding, and I had to laugh since it was so surreal. And I was like, ‘Mom are you kidding?'"

The tumor was determined to be benign, and after recovering from the surgery, Shapiro was able to resume running. She had just taken up the sport that very fall, as a seventh-grader.

She was about to enter high school and join her new teammates when the tumor resurfaced just five months ago, in June. Shapiro was able to recover once again in time to start cross country practice with the rest of the Cougars on Aug. 15.

"My first thought was like, ‘Oh my god here we go again,'" said Shapiro. "But then it was like, ‘I'll get through it.' It was hard getting back into training because I was definitely not as fit after sitting out for a month, but after that it was pretty easy to get back into the swing of things."

Shapiro not only got back into shape, but has had a solid freshman campaign. She finished second at the Magruder Invitational, 47th at the Peter Geraghty Invitational and 182nd at the Paul Short Run.

She also had her best showing of the season at the Montgomery County Championship meet, finishing 39th with a personal-best time of 20 minutes, 55.86 seconds en route to helping Quince Orchard finish second overall.

"I am sure it's a big source of motivation for her in terms of her outlook on life and work ethic," said Quince Orchard head coach Seann Pelkey. "She's not looking to make it someone else's motivation. … It was real important to me that I get to know her beyond these circumstances and get to know her as the person as she is, and not as the ‘brain tumor girl.' I haven't had to baby her for anything."

"We are happy that she is running," said Shapiro's mother, Lisa Halpern. "Coach Pelkey is a wonderful individual and coach. The team has been great for her for her spirits and motivation."

With all Shapiro has been through, she remains cognizant of her past and cherishes life all the more. But she does not worry about any potential future health problems, instead focusing on the upcoming 4A West Region race Thursday.

"This season, Shannon Wagner is number four so I really want to catch up to her and close that gap," said Shapiro. "I definitely want to get to number one in high school."