Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Riley James #12188 Race: 2026 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Front Half Gives Way to a Hard-Earned Finish Riley James completed the marathon in 4:32:54. Through halfway he was locked into a tight band of 9:009:15 miles, holding that rhythm all the way to mile 18 before the pace gradually eased over the closing miles, extending past 12, 13, and eventually 15 minutes per mile as the finish neared. Miles 1 through 18 stand out as the strongest stretch of the race, a sustained 9:05-per-mile average across eighteen miles of Boulder County terrain. That effort came at over 5,000 feet of elevation, a factor worth noting given the pace held. The lululemon Power-Up Zone near mile 22.5 arrived just as the second-half fade was setting in a useful marker for future pacing, and an optional area to target for a more even second half next time out.