For 2013 IAAF World Championships 800-meter silver medalist Nick Symmonds, today’s race presented a special challenge.  Making his marathon debut, the 33 year-old athlete ran the full distance off of just 25 miles per week of training, and surprised many observers by nearly breaking three hours.  His official time was 3:00:35.

“I completed it; that was tough,” said Symmonds after walking stiff-legged to the media area.  “I felt so good through the first half and even through mile-20 I felt great. And then I slowed down a bit at mile 20 which I assumed I would. I was still right on pace to break three until mile 24, and I was moving just fine, but the hill really knocked it out of me.”

Still, Symmonds was optimistic and said he might try another marathon. 

“Maybe I’ll run a spring marathon and maybe do more than 25 miles a week to try and prepare for it,” he said.