A finish that'll be talked about for years
Some races you remember for a long time. The 2026 LA Marathon is already one of them. When Nathan Martin dove forward across the finish line to edge Kenya's Michael Kimani Kamau by less than a second, he wrote one of the most remarkable chapters in this race's history. 26.2 miles run, and it all came down to a fraction of a second.
Martin finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 16 seconds. Kamau right behind him. The margin was the smallest ever recorded in 41 editions of the LA Marathon. If you watch the finish-line video, you understand in an instant why marathons remain one of the most unpredictable sports on the planet.
What the men's race teaches about race tactics
Martin's win wasn't a straightforward one. The first 30 kilometers played out in a tight lead pack, the African favorites managing the pace, Martin staying close without ever falling back.
It wasn't until past the 35-kilometer mark that the race really broke open. Martin executed a classic but brutally effective strategy: patience in the first two-thirds, a steady build in the third, and a final sprint over the last 200 meters. His dive across the line was part instinct, part tactics — but it's exactly that kind of competitive instinct that separates wins from second places.
For amateur runners, the lesson applies to every race: don't go out too hard, preserve energy for the last 7 miles, and never mentally concede until you've crossed the line. Pushing too hard too early is also one of the fastest ways to court a training load injury in a single session.
Priscah Cherono: the most unlikely win of the day
The men's race grabbed the headlines, but Priscah Cherono's performance in the women's race deserves at least as much attention. The Kenyan won in 2:25:18 at age 45. What makes her win extraordinary: it was only her second professional marathon.
Read that again. Second professional marathon. She finished more than two minutes ahead of American Kellyn Taylor — a seriously elite athlete. Cherono, who spent most of her career at shorter distances, decided to try the marathon. And she dominated from her second attempt.
Her win poses a question a lot of masters runners are asking themselves: at what age is it too late to run fast? The answer Cherono just gave: clearly not at 45.
The marathon as unpredictable as ever
What makes the marathon such a compelling sport is that every major race is an unpredictable mix of preparation, tactics, conditions, and raw courage in the final miles. The 2026 LA Marathon didn't disappoint.
Both wins from this edition have something in common: neither looked inevitable going into race day. Martin wasn't the heavy favorite. Cherono was only on her second professional attempt. Neither of them waited for perfect conditions to deliver a great result.
Takeaways for your next race
If you're training for a marathon this season — Boston on April 20, or any other race on your calendar — the 2026 LA Marathon gives you a few useful reminders:
- Races aren't decided in the first 20 miles. They're won in the last 6. Save something for the finish.
- Patience is an active strategy, not a weakness. Martin ran in the shadow of the leaders for 22 miles before making his move.
- Extraordinary performances aren't reserved for the young. Cherono just proved that in the most spectacular way possible.
The next big date: Boston on April 20. All eyes will be on the usual Ethiopian and Kenyan favorites — but after the LA Marathon surprise, no one can afford to write off the underdogs.