In her fourth marathon of 2024, Sara Hall finished 10th at the Valencia Marathon in Spain in 2:23:45. Hall, 41, shattered her own U.S. masters record, 2:26:06, which she set at the since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books in February.
The race was won by Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia in 2:16:49.
Hall averaged 5:29 per mile pace in Valencia. It was her best marathon since 2022, when she ran 2:22:10 at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and placed fifth.
Sara Hall 5th at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials frequent racer throughout her career, not needing much time to recover between races. Her entry into Valencia was a last-minute addition, after she raced in Chicago eight weeks earlier, and the race did not go according to plan. (Hall was 18th in 2:30:12.) She also ran Boston this year, finishing 15th in 2:27:58.
She posted to her Instagram account after the race.
“After a long stretch of not feeling like myself since Boston, it felt so good to have my normal fight out there,” Hall wrote, in part. “Applied the lessons I learned from Chicago, handled the very similar conditions much better. Chose to believe in myself even when my confidence had been rattled over and over. What a dream to do this four times this year.”
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Runner’s World that she missed several bottles in Chicago—she fumbled a couple, and others she didn’t drink much out of—and became dehydrated in the humid conditions. “This time just was much more intentional to consume fluids even if I didn’t feel like I needed it,” she said.
She also increased her electrolytes and said she went out more conservatively than she would normally run and did at Chicago. Hall ran half spits that were almost even—1:11:40 and 1:12:05.
Hall’s PR is 2:20:32 from the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona, a one-time event set up for elite runners during the pandemic. That PR Olympic Marathon Trials, behind Emily Sisson, Keira D’Amato, Betsy Saina, and Deena Kastor.
Her career is notable for its duration. Hall has appeared in every Olympic Trials since 2004, either on the track or in the marathon, or both. She is coached by her husband, Ryan Hall, who is third on the U.S. all-time list for men’s marathoners.
Hall elaborated in a text message to 2019 behind Emily Sisson, Keira DAmato, Betsy Saina, and Deena Kastor, where she finished sixth, ran 2:29:32, setting an American record for the 45–49 age group.
Groner’s record should be safe for at least the next three years—or until Hall turns 45 in April 2028.
Sarah Lorge Butler is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World since 2005. She is the author of two popular fitness books, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
