Date: Sept. 28, 2025 Participant: Christie Birchem #11960 Race: 2025 Boulderthon Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles Weather: Perfect running weather with temperatures in the 50's to 70's and nice cloud cover

Consistent Start, Stamina Challenges Christie Birchem's performance in the 2025 Boulderthon Marathon showcased a balanced start with tight pacing. Initially maintaining an 8:44 min/mile pace through the first three miles, her splits were steady. The strongest split was at mile 12, clocking at 8:13 min/mile, demonstrating her capability for speed. The race's first half saw her climb the ranks effectively, reaching as high as 333rd overall. In the latter stages of the marathon, Christie experienced a gradual pace slow-down, with the pace settling at 9:20 min/mile by mile 22. Despite these challenges, she managed to finish 8th in her division (F40-44), and 132nd in her gender category. Compared to her previous half marathon performance at the 2024 Boulderthon, Christie displayed resilience in finishing 604th overall among 2678 participants. Focus on pacing strategy in the latter miles can enhance future performance.