Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Julia Kelpe #10878 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Early Pace Fades Late but Finish Holds Steady Julia Kelpe crossed the marathon finish in 4:17:40, good for 146th among women. Her first ten miles were remarkably even, holding between 8:50 and 9:25 per mile and settling her cumulative pace near 9:05 by the halfway point. That opening stretch was the strongest of her day, with mile splits tightening rather than drifting as the race progressed toward downtown Boulder. The final 10K told a different story: mile 21 slowed to 12:31, part of a stretch through miles 21-26 that ran 10:54-12:59, pulling her overall pace to 9:50 by the finish. That slowdown arrived just past the lululemon Power-Up Zone near mile 22.5, a notable marker on this year's marathon course, which trimmed net elevation gain to 603 feet. Given Boulder's elevation above 5,000 feet, maintaining her early rhythm through those closing miles could be a useful focus for future races.