Catherine "Katie" Durant and Richie Soto have been on the run since their middle school days.
In that short time — a six-year period for Durant and four-year span for Soto — the two have grown into and excelled at cross-country and track and field as prep athletes at Marina High. They've both competed in the big invitationals and big meets, but neither has done a certain run.
Come early-Sunday, that will change.
Durant, 17, and Soto, 16, are entered in Sunday's 15th annual Surf City USA Marathon and both will run the half-marathon, along with numerous other Huntington Beach residents.
"It's a new challenge for me, and I know it's the same for Richie, so it should be a great experience for us both," said Durant, who has participated in past Surf City USA Marathon events, but as a 5K participant.
There is no 5K event this year.
More than 20,000 runners from around the world — 88% coming from Orange County — are expected for the Surf City USA Marathon, which has a course that travels along Pacific Coast Highway past the Huntington Beach Pier, toward the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and back to The Waterfront Beach Resort.