Auburn native and Syracuse University graduate Lauren Kazmierski ran in the Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia on Sunday. It was her first ever marathon.

Kazmierski, 23, spent most of her life in Auburn, and was a star athlete on the Auburn High School swim team. She moved to Washington, D.C. in January to begin a career with the American Heart Association. Kazmierski ran to train for swimming in high school, but decided to hit the pavement even harder in college.

“I was ready to get out of the pool,” Kazmierski said. “I felt ready to do something else and I started to run competitively. It is a rather easy sport to get in to, there isn’t any equipment to buy and you can do it anywhere.”

Kazmierski always wanted to participate in a marathon. On Sunday, she didn’t just participate — she finished. Kazmierski completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 5 hours, 28 minutes and 2 seconds.

“It has been a lifelong dream for me, to be able to finish a race like this,” she said during a phone interview last week.

With it being her first marathon, Kazmierski has been working hard to prepare. She joined a running team and makes sure to keep her diet in check. “Our running team does long runs together,” Kazmierski said. “We get together at 6 a.m. every Saturday morning and gradually increase our distance. I have also been working on eating healthy for more energy.”

Kazmierski said that this marathon in particular is a good choice for a first-timer, as there is no focus on winning.

“The Marines’ marathon is known as the people’s marathon,” Kazmierski said. “It is a great race for first-timers who don’t have to worry about being at the back of the pack. There will be a lot of first-timers running.”

Kazmierski is excited to come back to Auburn for Thanksgiving and is even thinking of trying to arrange a marathon in the area, perhaps even one sponsored by the American Heart Association.

“I would love to come home and run,” Kazmierski said. “I am already looking for a run to do around Thanksgiving. It is a good time to run because everyone is thinking about their weight and how much they eat, so I would love to try and set something up in Auburn.”

Kazmierski does not only run for the competition but also the feeling she gets from getting a good workout.

“The idea of being in shape and feeling good — that is what I really like after I run,” she said. “It is a feeling of self accomplishment.”