Date: Sept. 28, 2025 Participant: Matthew Swalm #11423 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

Strong Early Performance, Consistent Pace Dips in Later Miles Matthew Swalm began the 2025 Boulderthon Marathon with a solid start, covering the first mile in 9:21. Notably, his fifth and sixth-mile splits were his fastest at 6:54 min/mile, showcasing an impressive burst of speed. Through the first 13 miles, Matthew maintained a steadier pace, with a half-marathon mark around 1:55:50 and an average pace just below 9 minutes per mile for several miles. In the latter stages, from mile 20 onwards, the pace began to slow, with times ranging from 12:30 in mile 20 to 14:12 in mile 25. This is a typical point of fatigue, and finding a strategy to maintain consistency here could improve overall performance. Despite the challenges in the second half, he completed the marathon with a total time of 4:30:07 and an average pace of 10:18 min/mile. Continuing to build endurance and focusing on pacing strategies can help optimize race outcomes in future endeavors.