A total of 657 people crossed the finish line of the Esencial Media Maratón San José this Sunday. To that number you must add 134 athletes who ran the first half of the course (relay format), and therefore did not cross the finish line, but still participated.

Men, once again, dominated in both quantity and speed. Of the 657 finishers, 355 (54%) were men, 168 (26%) women, and 134 (20%) participated in relay format.

It took men, on average, 1 hour, 53 minutes and 12 seconds to complete the 21 kilometers of the course (5:23/km), while it took women about 13 minutes more (2:06:36 was the average time for women, at 6:02/km). Those who participated in relay format took an average of 2:00:54 hours to finish the course (at 5:45/km).

But perhaps the most interesting fact about the Esencial Media Maratón San José is how evenly everyone ran the first and second half of the course. Until now, the norm had been to see first halves much faster than second halves, since the average runner tends to start too fast and then significantly slow down when fatigue hits.

This time, however, the average finisher ran very intelligently and managed equal times between the first and second half. Excluding the relay category (since different people run, you cannot compare), those who ran all 21 kilometers ran the first half on average in 58:51 and, surprisingly, they also ran the second half in an identical time of 58:51.

The fact is even more surprising when you consider that the first half was more favorable than the second. In the first 10.5 kilometers there was a net descent of 53 meters, while in the second half it was only 28 meters. Women, in fact, ran the second half on average 19 seconds faster than the first half (1:03:34 and 1:03:15 respectively). Men, for their part, ran the second half just 10 seconds slower than the first half (56:31 and 56:41 respectively).

Other interesting facts:

• Mónica Soto Solórzano had the privilege of splitting the pack right down the middle; her time of 58:32 is the exact midpoint, half of the participants ran faster and the other half slower.

• Katy García Corea was the exact middle among women; her time of 2:04:17 falls exactly in the middle of the women's pack.

• Manuel Morales Alvarado had that privilege among men; his time of 1:51:54 divides the men right down the middle.

• The fastest runner was Spencer Gardner, his final time of 1:06:33 is equivalent to running each kilometer on average in 3:10 minutes.

• The fastest female runner was Jenny Méndez, her final time of 1:22:14 means she ran at 3:55 minutes per kilometer on average.

• The runner who enjoyed the race the most was Johnny Monge Palma, who spent 2:51:58 admiring the course (lucky him while everyone else finished so fast).

Congratulations to all participants in this first edition of the Media Maratón San José, you can view the complete results and rate the raceHERE.

* Data taken from the official results of the event. Times based on the time marked by the chip.