Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Jake Parker #11925 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Front Half Gives Way to a Grinding Final 10K Jake Parker finished the marathon in 4:07:58, built almost entirely on a rock-steady opening 18 miles near 7:58 pace per mile. That stretch was the clear highlight of his race, with mile-to-mile splits rarely wavering more than 15 seconds and his cumulative pace holding right around 8:00 through mile 18. From there the effort cost him: mile 19 slowed to 11:04, and paces climbed into the 12-14 minute range through the finish, pushing his overall time to 9:27 per mile. That fade came right around where the course passes the lululemon Power-Up Zone near mile 22.5, a tough stretch to hold form after such a fast start. Given Boulder's elevation above 5,000 feet, the early pace was an ambitious target; dialing back slightly over the first half could help him carry more strength into the closing miles next time.