5K personal record of 13:34; 10k PR of 28:26; 2023 Speedgoat 50k by UTMB Champion

My wife Summer (Harper) Allen is a multiple-time All-American at Weber State University and finished 11th at the 2020 U.S Olympic Trials in the steeplechase. We have two kids: Miles (3) and Boston (1) and another who was due on January 4.

Multiple time All-American in cross country.

This is my Instagram recap of my first marathon and OTQ story. I am religious so it has a religious aspect to it. “Thou shalt run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.” My marathon debut is in the bag. I had the scripture above replaying in my head over and over during the race especially as it went from great to good to bad (haha). I had some bottles that I believe weren’t put out on the correct tables on mile markers 6 and 9 but suddenly appeared from 13 miles and on. While I tried my best to not panic, the inadequate fueling still came back to bite me in the end. I got my first bottle slightly after the half marathon point where I came through in 1:04:46. I was gifted a small quantity of calories from a competitor at mile 9. After getting my fuel at mile 13 and having lead from mile 2, I tried to stay sharp and focused on my form. Having whittled the pack down to me and one other athlete drafting on my heels, I was in the zone and then completely passed my bottle/table station at mile 16. I was eventually able to break away from everyone by mile 20 and thought just maybe I could hold on. I stayed below a 2:10 pace until mile 22 but things got worse from there. I eventually lost the lead by mile 23 and the bonk got harder and harder as I ran some painfully slow miles to finish in 2:15:01. While it may seem the scripture I repeated over and over didn’t come to pass, I still felt its influence in those last few miles when I was had spotty and blurry vision. I thought I'd faint yet I was given the strength to finish. I know God gave me the strength to finish and I’m grateful I didn’t throw in the towel when things starting going south. I was happy to get the Olympic trials qualifying mark, but I’m still a hungry dog. I’m not a 2:10 marathoner yet but I’m excited to come back swinging harder at the next one.

"In order to taste glory you have to be willing to flirt with the line of disaster."

Becoming an All-American in cross country with my wife in Tallahassee while having both our parents and our son there cheering us on!