Two World Records Set In The Indoor Marathon This Weekend

This weekend, several runners ran record-setting marathons but at an unexpected venue—an indoor track.

The 2nd Annual NYC Indoor Marathon Presented by the New York Road Runners hosted the World Record Challenge, where participants raced 26.2 miles by completing 211 laps of the 200-meter indoor track.

Top male finisher Christopher Zablocki of Essex, CT, set a new world indoor marathon record, finishing in 2:21:48. Zablocki just came under the old mark of 2:21:56, set by Malcolm Richards.

Lauren Manninem, of Finland, trailed second place finisher Kate Pallardy for much of the race, moving into first place with 40 laps to go. Her time of 2:42:30 easily beat the previous world indoor marathon record of 2:44:44, set last year by Allie Kieffer.

Pallardy, a member of New Balance Central Park Track Club and mother of two, set a new American indoor marathon record, finishing the race in 2:44:11. “Unfortunately, to be very honest, it wasn’t what I was going after,” Pallardy said of her new race. “I wanted the world record so I must go back. I’ll take solace in the fact that I have the American record but really it is only because there are only few dumb enough to run 211 laps.”

While 26.2 miles on a track may seem daunting, Pallardy enjoyed the challenge. “I have raced everything from Ironmans, 50 and 100 milers, to every road distance imaginable so I was excited to line up for something new.”

In addition to the World Record Challenge, over 100 relay teams competed in the indoor marathon throughout the weekend. Proceeds from the race benefit the Armory College Prep program.

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