Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Parker Novak #40838 Race: 2026 Boulderthon 5K Distance: 3.1 miles

Strong Middle Mile Fuels a Steady 5K Finish Parker Novak finished the 2026 Boulderthon 5K in 30:47, an overall pace of 9:56 per mile. He opened with a 9:47 first mile, then surged to his fastest stretch of the race, an 8:31 second mile, before easing back to 11:26 over the closing mile to the Pearl Street Mall finish. That middle mile stands out as the highlight of Novak's race, a sharp drop in pace that showed real strength before the final stretch pulled his cumulative pace back toward 9:56. With Boulder's elevation over 5,000 feet as a backdrop, the early pacing pattern building speed before settling in offers a useful reference point: locking in that second-mile rhythm a bit earlier could make for an even smoother finish next time.