• Sarah Palin had competitive nature growing up
• Palin played basketball and participated in beauty pageants
• Described as feisty

In the election year horserace, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came out of the gate and into the public eye from out of nowhere. Rounding the bend in the pace-quickening race to the White House, Palin's competitive nature has been present not only in her campaign for vice presidency, but her whole life.

Palin began her race through politics in 1992 when she became a member of the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council. She served on the council until 1996 and assumed the position of Mayor of Wasilla until 2002.

From 2003 to 2004, Palin served as the chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Her next political leadership position came with winning the race for Alaska governor in 2006.

How did a fast rising politician become so competitive?

Linda Menard, a family friend of Palin and Republican candidate for Alaska state Senate, has known Palin since she was in elementary school. Menard remembers Palin's competitive sports nature.

"When we moved here in 1970 there were 3,000 people in the Wasilla area," Menard said. "We were all very involved in sports, and Sarah was an excellent athlete as well as her siblings and our children."

Palin played point guard for the Wasilla High School basketball team. She never feared entering the game and fighting her hardest to win, Menard said. If Palin fell and scraped her knee, she would spring up again.

Menard said her husband, Curt, announced Wasilla High School's championship basketball game over the radio. Palin scored the winning point at the free-throw line in the final minutes of the game, she said.

"She is a very accomplished person in whatever she attacks," Menard said. "She's bright and a quick study. She just has that appeal."

Palin also competed in cross country races, Menard said. Menard remembers attending one of Palin's meets and clapping as the student competitors made their way through the woods. Palin acknowledged Menard's presence as she pushed herself to the finish and said to Menard with tears in her eyes, 'Pray for me.' Palin wanted only to make it to the finish line that day, Menard said.

"It was an endurance test for her," Menard said.

Whether playing sports or participating in beauty pageants, Palin's feisty spirit shone through everything she did, Menard said.

Palin began competing in beauty pageants to win scholarship money for her college career, she said.

"She could receive quite a nice scholarship," Menard said. "Definitely, without any question, that was Sarah's interest. Her desire was definitely for the scholarship."

Palin played the flute as her talent and interviewed with confidence and poise, Menard said.

"Sarah just had an edge," she said. "She was a real quick thinker. She had a way with words that were a little bit unusual, but very inviting to the listener. "

In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla scholarship pageant and advanced to the Miss Alaska competition, Menard said. At the statewide competition Palin was crowned Miss Congeniality and second runner-up in Miss Alaska.

Maryline Blackburn, international entertainer and singer, was crowned Miss Alaska.

Blackburn said she began to cry when she was crowned Miss Alaska while the other girls applauded and smiled.

Palin congratulated Blackburn, but Blackburn said she sensed Palin thought she could have been in the same position.

"You can always sense there are certain people who are your biggest competitors, and Sarah was one of them," Blackburn said.

Palin and Blackburn discussed their goals and futures while conversing throughout the competition, Blackburn said. Palin said she wished to pursue journalism and didn't speak of politics. The two competitors spoke of relationships with men and what they desired in a marriage. Their conversation topics included "girly stuff," Blackburn said.

"I was excited (to hear of Palin's nomination) because it's nice to hear about success stories about girls you have been in pageants with," Blackburn said. "We are supportive of each other and of the careers we each pursue."

Those individuals meeting Palin for the first time since the campaigning began have also been overcome with excitement. Mary Novick, a junior at Franciscan University of Stebenville in Ohio and president of her College Republicans chapter, said she briefly met Palin at a rally in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Novick said she arrived hours early to be close to Palin and was invited to go up on stage.

She received Palin's autograph, took a photo with her and spoke with her for a few seconds, Novick said.

Palin sincerely thanked Novick for her support and work with College Republicans.

"I was totally surprised she totally took the time to talk to me," Novick said.

She said Palin presents herself as down to earth and relatable. She spoke about the human dignity of special needs children.

"She is a testimony to the pro-life movement," Novick said, referring to Palin's newborn son, Trig, who was born with Down syndrome. "She doesn't just talk the talk. She follows through."