For many, Sunday mornings are the perfect time for sleeping in and relaxing, but for a group of West Seattle women, they are a time to sweat.

The Running Divas are a group of women, most from West Seattle, who run long-distance together. The women train every Sunday morning, at 5:30 a.m.—running an average of 20 miles.

“We’re all going for different goals and we challenge each other in different ways,” said Lane Keough, one of the runners.

Besides the exercise, each Sunday is a social opportunity for the women as well. After they train, the group goes to Bakery Nouvea in the Alaska Junction where they chat and enjoy almond croissants.

“It’s unique to have a group like this that actually enjoys each others’ company,” said Kim Lengle, another member of the group.

“It’s the group that you can talk with about the whole week and everything going,” said Lane Keough, another runner. “Just a time to catch up with the girls.”

Cathleen Knutson, a 27-year-old who has run 35 marathons, started the group with a couple friends in 2005. The group has since grown and found new routes around West Seattle.

Recently, six of the “divas” qualified and ran in the Boston Marathon. The runners trained all winter, even through snow storms.

“Training for Boston was brutal, with the snow and dark mornings,” said Lengle. “It brings up the commitment level.”

She added that the 26.2 mile course itself is very technical, requiring participants to pace themselves and “run smart.”

For many of the local runners this was not their first time in the Boston Marathon—and they focused on beating their previous times. But Kim says she simply wanted to enjoy the race.

“At the end of the day we all had a great time,” said Lengle.

“I love the prestige of Boston,” said Knutson, who has run that marathon five times. “The crowd is amazing and the group of runners is really experienced and excited.”

Today some of the runners are training for the upcoming Rock N’ Roll Marathon, but all continue to enjoy the encouragement and camaraderie they find each Sunday morning.

“I’m really lucky that I have a group of girlfriends that will log long miles with me,” said Knutson. “That’s what I really care about.”