Date: Sept. 12, 2026 Participant: Patrick Ritsko #2066 Race: 2026 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistent Pace and Strong Finish Patrick Ritsko maintained a commendable performance throughout the 2026 REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:55:53. Starting strong, he completed the first mile in 5:34, keeping an impressive lead by taking first place in his division during this segment. As the race progressed, his pace slightly slowed, averaging around 6:42 min/mile by the end. He ended the marathon in 19th place overall out of 1,388 participants, securing 4th in his division M 35-39 and 17th among male competitors. Ritsko demonstrated admirable consistency, particularly holding a steady average pace over the last few miles, with splits like 7:15 and 7:28. His ability to regain momentum and finish strong, such as with a split time of 6:04 in mile 15, is commendable. For future races, a focus on maintaining the early aggressive pace throughout might enhance overall performance further. Excellent work representing the Marathon Maniacs/Half Fanantics!