Inaugural Phoenix Marathon |

Kevin DeGroff delivered an incredible performance at the inaugural Phoenix Marathon, using the race as a training run — and still finishing with an impressive 2:47:12 marathon time and another Boston Qualifying result.
This video captures Kevin’s full journey, from the Phoenix Marathon Expo through race day, and finishes with both an “After the Finish Line” reaction and a thoughtful post-race reflection.

Kevin originally planned to run conservative 7:00 minute miles (~3:00 marathon), but during the race he found himself comfortably running with a large pack averaging 6:22 min/mile. He stayed relaxed, controlled, and strong throughout the entire marathon — even closing the race with a sub-6 minute final mile.

Notably, Kevin chose to race in his Nike Vomero Plus training shoes, opting not to use his Nike Alphafly racing shoes, further highlighting how strong and effortless this performance truly was.

Fueling played a key role in Kevin’s success. He relied on Maurten nutrition, including:

Maurten Gel 100 Caf 100 (25g carbohydrates, 100mg caffeine)
Maurten Gel 160 (40g carbohydrates)
Maurten Drink Mix 320 (80g carbohydrates per 500ml of water)

🏁 Race Results & Stats
Finish Time: 2:47:12
Average Pace: 6:22 min/mile
Overall Place: 28 / 2,491
Male Place: 27 / 1,770
Age Group (M 19–24): 7 / 278
Boston Marathon Qualifier: ✅
Marathon Number: 11

From the first-ever Phoenix Marathon to another elite-level performance, Kevin’s training, discipline, and attention to detail were on full display.

🎥 Watch through the end for Kevin’s immediate post-race reaction and his post-race reflections after time to process the run.