By mile 22, most runners look like zombies. Their average speed drops by 20%. The last 4 miles are pure survival.
This is why the overall average is so slow. The first half is usually 10 minutes faster than the second half. Be smart. Don’t sprint at mile 1.
Unless you’re the rhino. Then sprint anyway. Chaos is your friend.
What About The Back Of The Pack?
The slowest official time each year is usually around 8 hours. That’s a whole workday of running. Respect.
These runners get the loudest cheers. The crowd knows: finishing is the real victory. The clock is just decoration.
If you’re reading this and thinking “I could never,” remember: the average runner is not an elite athlete. They’re a person. With chafing.
