By Megan Friess
For the Friess family, the Catalina Marathon isn’t just a race. It’s a tradition that has grown alongside us, year after year. What began with our dad has become something that connects our entire family, past and present, through miles of dirt trails, steep climbs, and shared determination.
Rick, our dad, set the foundation. With 18 finishes, his commitment to the race inspired the rest of us to take on the challenge. Our connection to the Catalina Island marathon began with him, and over time, it became something the whole family would share. Before any of us sisters ever laced up our shoes, our mom, Jenny, had run the Catalina marathon–and so had our grandfather, uncle, and aunt. Running, it turns out, was already part of the family. Getting bibs was sometimes a challenge with so many Friesses and adding the daughters into the mix didn’t make it any easier.
The sisters’ tradition began in 2015, when Megan, the second oldest daughter, became the first to run the Catalina Marathon. Jillian followed, running in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Emily and Ella joined, turning it into a shared sister experience, and in 2018, Kate completed the lineup, making it something the younger sisters would carry forward together.
If you’ve ever been out on the Catalina course on race day, there’s a good chance you’ve seen or at least heard of the Friess family. We’re the loud, very chatty ones, calling out encouragement, catching up mid-race, and somehow carrying on full conversations while climbing hills. A line of long, blonde braids bouncing down the trail, we’ve become a bit of a familiar sight and sound over the years.
Part of what makes the race so special is that it never quite feels like running among strangers. Friends–Rob, Johnny, Mike, and Eric–run past and say hi (or maybe we leapfrog back and forth and keep a conversation going). And new friends are always made along the way: Have you run before? Oh, this is your first time? You’ll love it–at least once your feet stop hurting. Year after year, we recognize the same faces, fellow runners, volunteers, and supporters who have become part of the rhythm of the Catalina Marathon. There are quick waves, mid-race check-ins, and the shared understanding of just how tough and rewarding this course is. It’s a community that builds quietly over time, and we’re grateful to be part of it. If you see us, during the race or around town, please say hi!
And then there’s the course itself, the rhythm we’ve come to know by heart. The early ferry into Two Harbors, stepping off into that cool, quiet morning. Descending into Little Harbor around mile eight, legs still fresh enough to take it in. Along the way, we play our usual game of “bush or bison,” scanning the hills, second-guessing every shape in the distance, and, if we’re lucky, catching a glimpse of the rare fox darting across the trail. The long climbs that follow, up and up–the hills that we forget until we’re in them, as if our brains have kindly blacked them out. Dad and we sisters spread out, each finding our own pace, only to reconnect again on the descents. The steady, sometimes grueling middle of the island, where the miles feel longest but those small moments of wonder and camaraderie break up the miles and remind us why this race feels so different from any other. The push up Pumphouse Hill; whether it feels daunting or just one more climb depends on the year–and the sister. And then, finally, the reward: flowing down the switchbacks into Avalon, legs loosening, energy returning, and that last stretch where we find just enough to sprint across the finish line.
The Catalina Marathon is known for its difficulty, the relentless hills, rugged terrain, and long stretches that test both physical and mental strength. But for us, it’s never just about the miles. It’s about showing up, encouraging each other through the hardest parts, and finding moments of connection along the way. And with every finish, we add another pin to our chains, a small marker of each year we’ve shown up and kept the tradition going. One day, we joke, those pin chains will be as long as our braids, a visible reminder of just how far this tradition has carried us.
What makes this tradition special isn’t just the number of races we’ve completed, but the way it has connected our family across time. From Rick’s first run, to Megan starting the sisters’ tradition in 2015, to the years we continue to return together, the Catalina Marathon has grown into something bigger than any one person.
For the Friess family, it’s more than a race. It’s a legacy, one that’s a little loud, very chatty, and carried forward mile by mile.
