JOURNEY OF A MARATHON RUNNER: RYLEY FICK

By Gina Valencia

Runners are a unique breed. Many sports are a team effort, and while each athlete is ultimately responsible for their own training, eventually they will gather for the same goal. Yes, there are plenty of running groups and buddies with whom you can train, but in the end, this is a solitary endeavor.

From evening neighborhood joggers, to cross country team runners, to the gazelle-fast sprinters, all these people are dedicated to their health and wellness. Yet, the awe-inspiring marathon runners have developed a different type of mettle, one that goes beyond the pavement.

State Of Mind

There is a saying for marathoners: “Finishing a marathon is a state of mind that says anything is possible.” And for CSULB graduate Ryley Fick, the back-to-back women’s Long Beach Marathon champion, this adage couldn’t be more appropriate.

“I thought it would be a fun challenge,” Ryley said. “A marathon is a different type of race, one that pushes me.”

Originally from Bakersfield, Ryley began playing soccer at the age of five. In high school, she was a woman for all sport seasons: cross-country in the fall, soccer in the winter, and track in spring. It was a high school friend who convinced her to join the cross-country team.

“She didn’t want to do it alone, and I thought it would be good soccer conditioning,” Ryley said.

When she tore her ACL at 16, Ryley focused all her attention to running. She excelled in cross-country and track and field; so much so that when she and her parents were touring Cal State Long Beach her senior year of high school, the track and field coaches were so impressed with her running times that they said she could have a place on the team if she wanted.

Ryley went on to set five school track and field records at Cal State and is in the school’s top 10 for seven different events, earning a full scholarship her college senior year. After graduating in 2023, with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, Ryley continued to run with a local group of the Performance Elite Running Club and decided to try something different and give a marathon a try.

“I didn’t have a strong desire to make a marathon my [main] event,” Ryley said. “I’m mostly quick on the track, not a super high mileage runner. But I like a challenge.”

Two-Time Long Beach Marathon Champion

She began training in July 2023, to compete in the Long Beach Marathon that same year in October, and lo and behold, won the women’s division. Deciding to run in the 2024 race, (because why not!) Ryley not only won the women’s division again at the 40th LB marathon this past October, but she beat her time from last year, with a personal best time of 2:54:42. If I ran a 10-minute mile, I’d be ecstatic.

“Oh, there are definitely days that I’m too tired and don’t feel like running,” Ryley laughed. “But what keeps me motivated is picturing race day. When I get to the starting line, I want to know that I did everything to be 100% ready.”

Aside from running, Ryley hits the gym for weight training, yoga, and aqua jogging to keep herself a well-rounded athlete.

Both marathon years qualified her for the prestigious Boston Marathon, but she has other plans right now. Besides working on a Physical Therapist degree, Ryley has goals on making the U.S. Olympic team.

Support Team

Running may be a solo undertaking, but it still takes a team of supporters to help a runner achieve their goals. “Running is an individual sport, but it does truly take a team of training partners or run club to reach your maximum potential,” said Dan Cruz, head of communications and an event organizer for the Long Beach Marathon.

“My family has always been supportive and are super happy for me,” Ryley said. “They’ve seen the behind the scenes of what it takes [to succeed.] On race day, it’s my desire to just finish the race. And I want to finish knowing I gave it my all.”

READY TO JOIN A RUNNING CLUB?

Performance Elite Running Club: www.performanceeliterunning.com

Long Beach Run Club: www.longbeachrunclub.com

A Running Experience Club: www.arec.run

Running Locas: www.runninglocas.com

Team Runners High: www.teamrunnershigh.com