Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 1, 2026 Participant: Kelly Smith #2694 Race: 2026 Surf City Half Marathon Wheelchair Distance: 13.1 miles

Consistently Competitive Despite Challenges Kelly Smith demonstrated impressive consistency and competitive spirit in the 2026 Surf City Half Marathon. Over the first three miles, Kelly maintained a steady average pace of just under 8 minutes per mile, securing second place among females, and reaching fifth overall briefly. Her standout performance was especially evident between miles 6 to 8, where she achieved a split pace of approximately 8:18 min/mile, momentarily moving into first place among females at mile 8. A notable slowdown occurred at miles 4 and 9, which were the longest split times at 17:45 and 15:53 respectively, affecting her overall position, which dropped to 17th for a time. Despite these hurdles, Kelly finished strong, clocking a final time of 2:00:41. There was a commendable recovery during the last mile with a split pace of 7:37 min/mile, rebounding into top female positions. Refining pacing strategies for steadier transitions may enhance future performances.