NB55-59: Carmicle Takes It in San Francisco

• Marcus Carmicle won the NB55-59 race in 4:59:18 (11:25/mi), finishing just under the five-hour mark.
• Brian Stephens completed the course in 6:07:31 (14:01/mi), crossing 1:08:13 behind Carmicle.
• Carmicle posted the 9th-fastest split in the field on the 9.6M–9.86M stretch — a sharp mid-race burst that stood out across all runners.
• Stephens answered with the 20th-fastest split in the field on the 14M–16M segment, finding another gear in the back half.

Marcus Carmicle, 56, of Richmond, KY, set the tone from the start and never relinquished his lead in the NB55-59 field. Running at 11:25 per mile through San Francisco's notoriously hilly streets — with a 15 mph wind adding resistance — he ticked under five hours, a meaningful benchmark on a course that demands respect. The standout moment came between miles 9.6 and 9.86, where Carmicle ripped the 9th-fastest split of any runner on that short but telling stretch, a sign that he still had pop at the midway point.

Brian Stephens, 59, of Richmond, CA, ran a measured race, holding his non-binary gender position with remarkable consistency — hovering between 27th and 28th from the opening miles all the way to the finish. His 14:01/mi pace across 6:07:31 reflects a patient, disciplined effort, and he had his own highlight: the 20th-fastest split in the field between miles 14 and 16, showing he wasn't simply grinding to the line but still racing when it counted.

Two athletes, two Richmonds — one in Kentucky, one in California — and a gap of just over an hour between them. Carmicle's win was clear and controlled; Stephens earned every step of his finish on a blustery San Francisco morning.