F70-74: Linda Sheaffer Owns the Age Group in Cleveland

• Solo champion: Linda Sheaffer, 70, of Washington, DC, finished in 4:42:08 — the only F70-74 finisher at the 2026 Cleveland Marathon.
• Steady pace: She averaged 10:46/mi across the full 26.2 miles in warm, humid conditions — 75°F and 68% humidity made for a demanding day.
• Mid-race movement: Sheaffer worked her way back through the women's field in the second half, recovering from a high of 322nd among women to finish 309th.

Linda Sheaffer stepped to the line as the sole representative of the F70-74 age group and made every mile count. Running through Cleveland's warm spring conditions — 75 degrees, thick humidity, and an 8 mph wind — she held a 10:46/mi average over 4:42:08, a genuine effort on a day that asked plenty of every finisher.

Her position in the broader women's field told an interesting story. Sheaffer moved from 276th among women at the half to as far back as 322nd before rallying through the final miles, clawing back to 309th by the finish. That mid-race drift and recovery is a familiar marathon rhythm — the back half of a 26.2 in this kind of heat has a way of reshuffling the field, and Sheaffer navigated it to the line.

At 70 years old, completing a marathon in any conditions is a serious achievement. With no one else in the F70-74 age group to challenge her, Sheaffer takes the win outright — and earns it.