Long Distance eighth grade runner Ashlyn S. never goes a day without running. Smith has only been running for six to seven months and runs for South Austin Steel, a track and cross country team.

  Ashlyn practices on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

 “On my off days I do my longs runs, which are about 40 minutes, to get milage,” Ashlyn said. “Running is pretty much my entire life.”

Ashlyn dreams of running cross country and track at University of Texas in Austin, and even go to the Olympics some day.

 “When I first started running, my times were good enough to win district, but now my times are qualified to go to nationals,” Ashlyn said. “I love the sport, and I love the competitiveness of it.”

 Running long distance has many techniques including pace. Ashlyn runs long distance because she can pace herself well.

 “I pace my mile by getting out fast for the first lap,”Ashlyn said. “Second lap, I kinda slow it down and pace myself. Third lap, I start to build up my speed. Fourth lap, I give it all I can.”

Ashlyn likes running in the summer out of all the seasons.

 “In the winter, I get really congested and it’s harder to breathe,” Ashlyn said. “It’s windy, and that’s harder to run through.”

 Before a meet or run, Ashlyn has to get mentally and physically prepared.

 “[I] just train as hard as I can, like a week before; take ice baths, and eat nutritious food,” Ashlyn said. “I just eat a lot of protein bars, fruit, and energy drinks. Usually the night before, I eat pasta for carbs.”

Ashlyn has accomplished many things, such as winning first place in the mile, and 800 at the district meet. She has also made an influence on runners along the way.

 “I felt really excited and happy [when I won first place at the district meet] because I had just started running, and I didn’t think I’d get first in the 800 or the mile,” Ashlyn said. “I have inspired other people by showing them that even though you just started doing a sport, you can train and get really good at it.”