Utah native Tori Parkinson emerged victorious at the 27th Flying Pig Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 6 seconds. Parkinson’s dominance in the women’s race was evident as she surged ahead early on, creating a substantial lead by mile 4 and extending it to an eight-minute gap by mile 16 over her closest competitors, Emma Ball and Daniella Townsend.
Reflecting on her performance, Parkinson acknowledged that her training had not gone exactly as planned but was pleased with her strength in the later stages of the race. Despite initially mistaking other female half-marathon leaders for rivals, she realized her solo position by the Walnut Hills split. Running unaccompanied for most of the race, Parkinson maintained a consistent pace, clocking an even split for the first and second halves of the marathon.
Sharing her race strategy, Parkinson mentioned drawing inspiration from her training runs and mental resilience to overcome challenges, particularly the hills on the course. She credited her ability to visualize past runs and stay focused on the task at hand for her success in the race.
Expressing her delight at the supportive atmosphere during the marathon, Parkinson described it as one of her favorite race experiences. The encouragement from spectators, especially women and young girls cheering her on, added to her motivation and enjoyment of the event.
Parkinson’s victory marked her first win in a marathon, adding to her list of accomplishments in previous races such as the Boston Marathon, Grandma’s Marathon, and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Her impressive time at the Flying Pig Marathon now stands as the second-fastest women’s winning time in the event’s history, hinting at the progress in women’s marathoning and the potential for future records to be broken.
Looking ahead, Parkinson set her sights on qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials marathon and expanding her marathon portfolio to include races like the New York City Marathon. Her ambitions reflect a growing trend in women’s distance running, with a focus on tailored training approaches and improved understanding of recovery methods to enhance performance.
While Parkinson celebrated her victory and post-race meal of street tacos, attention also turned to the next two finishers, Cincinnati native Daniella Townsend and high school graduate Emma Bell from Indiana. The post-race buzz and anticipation for future races underscored the excitement and competitiveness in the world of marathon running.