By Katie Mitchell
Senior Ashley Stepczyk is making the most out of quarantine, as she trains to run in her first marathon.
Though this might be her first marathon, Stepczyk isn’t new to running. She has been running on her own to train for soccer since she was in middle school, and is always doing what she can to stay fit. It wasn’t until March when she made the decision to take her running to the next level and train for a marathon.
“My favorite part of running is probably just being able to think and have my own space, especially during quarantine,” Stepczyk said. “Although it’s hard, it’s rewarding in the end.”
Stepczyk is better known for her skills on the soccer field. She has been playing club soccer for the LA Breakers since she was 10, and just finished her last year playing for the Mira Costa Girls Soccer Team, where the team won their first CIF title in school history. A big part of her soccer training has always been running around 2-4 miles to stay in shape. Since she is training for a marathon, her distances have gotten progressively longer and more challenging.
“If I’m running this much every day, I might as well work towards something and give myself more motivation,” Stepczyk said. “Also, my friend recently ran a marathon and said it was quite the experience.”
Stepczyk is currently training about 6 days a week. She will typically start her workout with running between 7-13 miles, then finish with a High Intensity Circuit Training (also known as HIIT circuits) or hill sprints. As she continues to grow stronger, she will add mileage and challenge herself more.
“Training for this run has been difficult, especially getting myself up in the mornings and pushing myself to do things I didn’t know I could do,” Stepczyk said. “But, when I finish each run, I know I’m getting even closer to my goal.”
As much as she loves to run, it can be challenging at times. According to Stepczyk, getting into the right mindset in order to withstand running for long periods of time can be tough. She needs to discipline herself to be able to run without breaks or rests.
“I love to run with friends or listen to music to keep me motivated,” Stepczyk said. “I just need to stay focused and try and forget how challenging it can be to run long distances.”
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Stepczyk doesn’t know which marathon she will be able to run. This isn’t stopping her from planning to continue running throughout college. She believes that running is a good outlet for her to stay in shape and get good exercise.
“I am excited to continue running in the future because it gives me time to just think and clear my head,” Stepczyk said. “At the same time, it’s a great way to stay fit and in shape.”
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