Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Mark Vandenberghe #12979 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Early Pace Fades Late in Marathon Effort Mark Vandenberghe covered the marathon in 4:38:58, finishing 6th in the M60-64 division. His race showed a clear two-part shape: he ran the first 11 miles at a brisk sub-8:45 pace, holding a cumulative pace near 8:43 min/mile through the first third of the course, before gradually easing through the middle miles into the 9:009:30 range. The final 10K saw the biggest change, with mile splits climbing past 12, then 14 and 15 minutes as the finish approached. The opening 11 miles stood out as his strongest stretch, sustaining sub-8:45 pace while racing at altitude Boulder sits above 5,000 feet, a notable backdrop for that early tempo. Maintaining more of that rhythm into the second half remains a worthwhile target for future races.