Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Leah Valesh #13435 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Steady Marathon Pacing Builds Strong Finishing Kick Leah Valesh completed the marathon in 4:01:45, an average pace of 9:13 per mile. Cumulative pace held right around 8:55-9:00/mile through the first 11 miles, drifted gradually into the 9:05-9:13 range through the middle miles, and touched 9:13 by mile 25 before she closed with an 8:35 mile 26 her fastest full mile of the race. Boulder sits at over 5,000 feet of elevation, a backdrop for that closing surge. Mile 9 was another highlight, clocked at 8:30, part of a strong single-digit stretch that kept her cumulative pace under 8:55 through mile 11. The marathon course finishes on the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder, a fitting stage for that final-mile push after the gradual middle-mile fade.