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Dec 4, 2011 · Folsom → Sacramento · Bib 2183 · M25-29 · Age 27

California
International
Marathon

26.2 miles from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol. Known as the fastest course in the West — which means everyone shows up fast.

3:47:36
Chip Time · 8:41/mi · Gun Time 3:50:09

The Numbers

2,261
Overall
of 5,755 finishers — top 40% in a field built for speed
197
Division M25-29
of 292 — the age group everyone's fastest in
8:41
Pace / Mile
Chip time over 26.2
8:14
Final 10K Pace
Last 6.2 miles in 51:12 — the fastest stretch of my race

The Splits

Clock times at each checkpoint, straight from the official results.

54:37
5.9 Miles
Settling in
1:55:14
Halfway · 13.1 mi
Miles 5.9–13.1 at 8:25/mi — feeling good
2:58:57
20 Miles
Miles 13.1–20 at 9:14/mi — the wall said hello
Then the wall lost. Last 10K at 8:14 pace — the fastest segment of the whole day. Apparently I negotiate well under pressure.

Me vs. The Average Marathoner

The median American male marathoner finishes in 4:10. The overall male average runs closer to 4:21.

Finish Time
23 minutes faster than the median, 34 faster than the average
Winner
2:11:50
Me
3:47:36
Median Male
4:10:00
Average Male
4:21:00
A 3:47 beats the average American male marathoner by half an hour. At CIM, it gets you 2,261st place. Fast race. Faster crowd.
Race data: 2011 CIM official results (5,755 finishers: 3,271 men, 2,484 women; 292 in M25-29; winner Erick Monyenye, 2:11:50). National averages: RunBikeCalc marathon time data · Runners Connect · RunRepeat — State of US Marathons