M75-79: Glenn Reis Runs Down the Field in San Francisco

• Glenn Reis, 75, wins in 4:45:20 — a 10:53/mi average through 56°F fog, finishing more than 31 minutes clear of the field.
• Tightest battle of the day: Roy Chen (5:45:26) and Francis Rodriguez (5:45:33) — just 7 seconds separated 5th from 6th across 26.2 miles.
• Bob Ulloa ran the early miles fastest among the M75-79 field, entering the race with a men's place around 3,011 before steadily fading to finish 3rd in 5:31:34.
• Eight finishers toed the line in M75-79, ranging from 75 to 77 years old — and every single one of them crossed the finish line of one of America's most demanding urban marathons.

Glenn Reis of Monterey made his move look methodical. Starting somewhere in the back half of the men's field, he spent the first half of the race climbing steadily through the standings — from around 4,153rd among men at the early checkpoint all the way to 3,137th by the finish. His closing leg (25 Miles to Finish) was strong enough to rank among the top runners on that segment across the entire women's field, a sign he was still pressing hard when others were fading. At 10:53 per mile over 26.2 miles in San Francisco's hills and humidity, Reis was never in doubt for the win.

Michael Zohourian of San Ramon took second in 5:16:21, running a steady 12:04/mi to finish 31 minutes back but well clear of third. Bob Ulloa of Porterville was the story of the middle miles — he came through the opening stretch (1.81 to 5.55 Miles) with one of the stronger early paces in the group, sitting well up in the men's field around 3,011th. But the course had its say, and Ulloa gradually worked back through the field to finish 3rd in 5:31:34 at 12:39/mi. Joe Cordova rounded out the top four in 5:39:34.

The race's best subplot unfolded between Roy Chen and Francis Rodriguez, both of Santa Clara County, both running 13:11/mi averages. Chen crossed in 5:45:26; Rodriguez, just 7 seconds later at 5:45:33. Seven seconds over 26.2 miles. Angel Ramirez Montellano of Villahermosa finished 7th in 5:58:47, and Lawrence George of Potomac completed the eight-man field in 7:12:13 — a 16:29/mi effort that still meant finishing the San Francisco Marathon at 76 years old.