Results/Photos

Date: May 24, 2026 Participant: Rachel Gerlach #124 Race: 2026 Vermont City Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Start with Consistent Form Rachel Gerlach exhibited impressive pacing in the early stages of the 2026 M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon. She began with a swift 6:35 min/mile pace and maintained a strong front-runner status by swiftly moving from 99th to 48th overall in the initial three miles. Notably, she was consistently in the top ranks of her F30-34 division within the first three splits. Her third mile was particularly strong, clocking in at 6:36, matching her initial speed despite the usual trend of slowing down. In the latter half of the race, Rachel experienced a gradual decline in pace, from a 7:15 min/mile at mile 7 to a 9:40 min/mile by mile 22. Despite this, she remained determined and rediscovered her form in the final mile with a split time of 7:55. With an overall time of 3:24:45 and an average pace of 7:48 min/mile, she placed 14th in her division, showcasing admirable consistency over the marathon distance. For future races, focusing on maintaining momentum in the mid-to-end phases could enhance her performance even further.