X25-29 in Long Beach: Castro Claims the Division Title

• Edgar Castro won the X25-29 field in 3:22:26 (7:43/mi), finishing more than 44 minutes clear of the only other finisher.
• Mik Poulin completed the marathon in 4:07:17 (9:26/mi) to take 2nd in X25-29.
• Castro posted the 2nd-fastest split in the women's field on the 5.5M–13.1M stretch — a standout mid-race surge that underscored the strength of his effort.
• Poulin answered with the 3rd-fastest split among women on the 13.1M–20M leg, showing real momentum in the back half.

With just two finishers in the X25-29 field on a warm October morning in Long Beach — 72°F, humid, and breezy off the coast — this was a race of contrasting rhythms rather than a close contest. Edgar Castro, 28, from South Gate, CA, controlled the day from start to finish, holding 2nd in the women's standings throughout and never relinquishing that position. His 3:22:26 at a 7:43/mi clip was a composed, consistent effort, and his split on the 5.5M–13.1M segment ranked 2nd among all women in the field — a sign he was genuinely moving through the course, not just surviving it.

Mik Poulin, also 28, made the trip from Saint Louis to Long Beach and showed his best running in the second half. His 13.1M–20M split ranked 3rd among women, meaning he was picking people off as others began to feel the miles. He crossed in 4:07:17 at 9:26/mi — a full 44 minutes and 51 seconds behind Castro, but a solid finish in its own right.

Castro takes the X25-29 title cleanly. Poulin earns 2nd.