Race recap: The fast, flat Marathon Project wraps up 2020

Finally in late September, three key figures in the pro running world announced The Marathon Project. Ben Rosario, head coach of the Hoka One One NAZ Elite training group, event director Matt Helbig, and Josh Cox, agent to many top distance runners, came up with the December event as a way to provide an opportunity for pro marathoners to showcase their speed and potentially earn long-delayed income.

To help facilitate fast times, every aspect of the race was carefully considered. The course covered six laps of a 7-kilometre loop of flat, smooth road. Numerous pacers helped lead athletes to their goal times. Cool temperatures and low winds produced nearly ideal conditions. Rosario, Helbig, and Cox let nothing escape their exacting standards.

Most importantly, the health and safety of participants was the top priority for everyone involved with the event. Athletes were required to show negative results from two COVID-19 tests, taken 24 hours apart, in the week prior. Outside spectators were not allowed on the course, and non-racers at the event were required to wear a mask at all times.

While race logistics were being finalized, race organizers recruited high-calibre athletes capable of throwing down fast times. When race day finally arrived, the racing did not disappoint.

Sara Hall won in a personal best of 2:20:32, for the second-fastest American women’s marathon ever, just under a minute behind Deena Kastor’s American record of 2:19:36 set in 2006. NAZ Elite runner Kellyn Taylor hung with Hall until dropping back just after the halfway point, eventually finishing third in 2:25:22. Keira D’Amato, coming off a stellar year that includes a new women’s 16-kilometre national record, passed Taylor to finish second with a time of 2:22:56, a 12-minute personal best and fast enough to earn D’Amato the 7th slot in the US women’s all-time list.

In the men’s race, the lead group hung together until about 10k to go, when Martin Hehir pushed the pace and broke up the pack. Hehir went on to win in 2:08:59, with Noah Droddy finishing in 2:09:09 and Colin Bennie rounding out the top three with a time of 2:09:38. Overall, the men’s race was one of the deepest in US history, with seven men dipping under 2:10. From both the men’s and women’s races, twenty total runners achieved Olympic Qualifying standards.

Brooks athletes reflect on the race.

Brooks athlete CJ Albertson and Hansons-Brooks athletes Shadrack Biwott and Brendan Gregg were among the men chasing down fast times and podium positions in this memorable race. (Editor’s note: Brooks did not have any sponsored women racing this weekend).

CJ Albertson, who placed 7th at the US Olympic Marathon Trials last February and has spent the pandemic setting national records for both the 50k and treadmill marathon, finished 10th in a time of 2:11:18. “I expected to run faster and be in contention for the win,” Albertson said, “but it was still a PR so I can’t be too upset.” Though the event was devoid of spectators and the usual high energy of big races, Albertson called the Marathon Project, “a great event. [It’s] motivating to see so many people run fast, and great to see the collective efforts of the distance running world come together to create a great opportunity.”