A local runner fell short of making history yesterday when he just barely missed clocking two sub-2:30 marathons in the same day.
Still, Michael Wardian can’t complain too much—he managed to go home with a gold medal.
The father of two won Sunday morning’s Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 9 seconds. But there was no time for celebration. Wardian headed straight for the airport with 200 other runners to fly 1,200 miles to compete in the Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas marathon at 4:30.
The Washington running community has long been witness to Wardian’s impressive feats. In addition to winning countless marathons and ultramarathons, the Arlington professional runner has also garnered some fun titles, including the world record for the fastest marathon in a superhero costume—he dressed as Spider-Man for the Lower Potomac Marathon in 2011.
Going into the weekend, Wardian’s goal was to finish both marathons in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line in 2:57:56 in Las Vegas and finished tenth. On the women’s side, Dorothy Beal of Leesburg ran a new personal record of 3:17:59 and earned herself a fifth-place finish.
“I was happy to be out there and come through in under three hours,” Wardian told Competitor.com after the race. “You’ve got to make different goals when things aren’t going your way.”
But there are no breaks for Wardian’s legs anytime soon. This Saturday he’ll run the historic JFK 50-Mile in Boonsboro, Maryland.
