Alex Yee, the Olympic triathlon champion, showcased his stamina ahead of his second marathon by finishing 19th in the Valencia Half Marathon, clocking a time of 1:01:30. This event, held on Sunday, marked Yee’s official debut in a half marathon, taking place in one of the fastest races globally.
Yee’s Journey in Distance Running
Focus has shifted for Yee this year as he concentrates more on running instead of triathlon. Earlier this season, he made an impressive entry into marathon running, finishing 14th in the London Marathon with a personal best of 2:11:08. He is optimistic about improving his time at the Valencia Marathon scheduled for December 7.
Performance Insights
Using an age-grading calculator, Yee’s half marathon time suggests he could aim for around a 2:08 finish in the marathon. Valencia’s cooler conditions during the race were a welcome change from the previous day’s heat, which soared to 30 degrees Celsius.
- Valencia Half Marathon: 19th place, time: 1:01:30
- Previous Marathon: London Marathon, 14th place, time: 2:11:08
- Upcoming Marathon: Valencia Marathon on December 7
- Half Marathon Insights: Estimated marathon potential of around 2:08
Competitive Landscape
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha won the Valencia Half Marathon with a time of 58:02, although he fell short of his record-setting time of 57:30. The course is renowned for being flat and fast, ideal for achieving personal bests.
Training Regimen
Since his London Marathon debut, Yee has participated in several triathlon races, including a victory at Supertri Toronto and a ninth-place finish at the WTCS French Riviera. His training has been intense and includes collaboration with top British marathon runner Phil Sesemann.
- Notable Races:
- Supertri Toronto: Victory
- WTCS French Riviera: 9th place
- Training Partner: Phil Sesemann, who achieved a personal best of 2:07:16 in the Amsterdam Marathon.
Yee’s performance in Valencia was well-paced, starting with a swift first 10km completed in 28:45. As he gears up for the challenges of the full marathon, anticipation grows around how both Yee and Sesemann will perform in December.
