Amy Palmiero-Winters (center) is welcomed to the Greater Long Island Running Club meeting by Barbara Stanari and Nationwide Insurance 10K Run for ASPIRE Director Bob Windorf.

The Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) was pleased to welcome Amy Palmiero-Winters of Hicksville as the featured speaker at its March 18 General Club Meeting, which took place at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, and Amy proved to be as inspirational and entertaining a speaker as had been anticipated.

Amy's message was that hard work and "giving your all" is the surest road to success, and that you can overcome any disability if you work hard at it. Amy, who is not "just" an outstanding amputee athlete, but is purely and simply an outstanding athlete, just successfully completed the Shamrock Marathon in 3:23, and related her experiences in preparing for and competing in that event.

Youngsters in the audience were especially enthralled by Amy and many stuck around after the meeting for a round table discussion with her.

Amy, whose left leg ultimately had to be amputated after an accident, was fitted for her prosthetic legs by Hicksville's A Step Ahead; she has one to run with, one to bike with, and a couple for everyday use. She trains at A Step Ahead's 14,000-square foot facility on Newbridge Road, under the tutelage of coach David Balsley and physical therapist Phil Kreuter.

Amy will be running in the Nationwide Insurance 10 Kilometer Run for ASPIRE on April 5,and her next big challenge will be the Long Island Greenbelt Trail 50K on May 10.