Napa Valley Marathon 5K: Helga Stahl Owns the F80-99 Field

• Sole finisher and champion: Helga Stahl, 83, crossed in 50:13 — good for 1st in the F80-99 field.
• Pace: 16:10/mi through a cool, breezy Napa morning — 48°F with a 12 mph wind and 80% humidity.

There was no question who would take the F80-99 title at the 2025 Napa Valley Marathon 5K — Helga Stahl of Chino Hills made sure of that simply by showing up and getting it done. The 83-year-old crossed the finish line in 50:13, claiming the win outright in a field she had entirely to herself.

Conditions on race morning were crisp and demanding — nearly 80% humidity and a 12 mph wind cutting through the valley at 48°F — the kind of morning that keeps most people indoors. Stahl was not most people. At 83, covering 3.1 miles at 16:10 per mile in those conditions is a statement of commitment that numbers alone don't fully capture, though the clock does its best.

Sometimes the most compelling story in a race isn't the photo finish — it's the person who simply lines up. Helga Stahl did exactly that, and she takes home the F80-99 title without dispute.