Nyla Evans began running as a way to deal with anxiety while being a middle school student during the pandemic. Now, she’s running her first marathon on Sunday at the age of 13.
Evans attends Irving Magnet School in the Glassell Park area. She’s participating in the 26.2-mile L.A. Marathon for the first time.
“I’m a little nervous for the marathon,” Evans told KTLA 5’s Sara Welch. “It might seem hard at the beginning, we could barely run a mile, but if you just stay kind of committed and do it again and again, it pays off.”
Evans is fairly new to running. She began running outside as a way to cope with her anxiety during the pandemic when many schools reverted to online classes.
“It was really a stress reliever,” Evans said. “You kind of just take a minute or an hour to breathe while you are running and you make a lot of new friends through it.”
Some of the friends she met through running will be joining her for the L.A. Marathon. Evans joined an organization called Students Run L.A., and she, along with her teammates, will be some of the youngest runners participating in the race.
Evans credits her coaches and friends for helping to keep her motivated and dedicated to running.
“The whole team,” Evans said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”
Evans’ mother, Johanna Voutounou, said her daughter started walking at the age of 7 months. She has noted the significant positive impact that running has made on her young daughter’s mental health.
“It was a struggle,” Voutounou said. “But she found this group and she found running and she found her step and came alive.”
The 13-year-old is hoping she can inspire others to take up running as a way to deal with anxiety and other mental health problems.
Evans also has her personal goals for finishing her first marathon.
“Mainly just to finish but thinking about a good time would be 5 and a half to 6 hours because it’s my first run,” Evans said. “Just take in the whole city.”
13-year-old Nyla Evans will participate in her first-ever marathon when she runs the L.A. Marathon. She began running during middle school to help deal with her anxiety during the pandemic. Evans spoke with KTLA on March 16, 2024. (Nyla Evans) 
Evans trains with other runners in her neighborhood. She spoke with KTLA on March 16, 2024. (KTLA) 
13-year-old Nyla Evans goes over the race route with her parents for the L.A. Marathon on March 16, 2024. (KTLA) 
13-year-old Nyla Evans training to participate in the L.A. Marathon for the first time on March 16, 2024. (KTLA)
Regardless of the time Evans posts, her mom is thrilled with the discipline her daughter has shown over the years.
“The dedication she’s shown is just unbelievable,” said Evans’ father, William. “I’m just so proud even if there was no marathon [Sunday], I’d be so proud.”
The 39th L.A. Marathon begins at 7 a.m. Sunday. Runners will kick off the 26.2-mile course at Dodger Stadium, before hitting the finish line in Century City at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars.
