Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Matthew Carroll #11649 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Early Pace Gives Way to a Tough Final 10K Matthew Carroll covered the marathon in 4:06:22. His first 18 miles were remarkably even, holding between 8:28 and 9:12 per mile and building to a cumulative pace near 8:47 by the halfway-plus point. Miles 14 through 18 stood out as his strongest sustained stretch, dropping as low as 8:28 per mile and pulling his overall pace down to its fastest mark of the day. The back end of the course told a different story, with mile splits climbing steadily from 9:38 at mile 20 to 11:51 by the finish. That late fade pushed his overall pace from 8:53 at mile 21 to 9:24 by the finish. Boulder's elevation, sitting above 5,000 feet, adds a layer of difficulty to any marathon effort at this distance, and Carroll's disciplined opening miles reflect well on his pacing strategy even as the closing miles slowed.