Delray Beach’s Melissa Perlman went out of her comfort zone this year by running three marathons and it paid off with a personal-best time in the recent California International Marathon in Sacramento.
The 41-year-old clocked 2 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds and was both third for females in her age division (40-44) and third overall in the masters division.
There were a total of 1,634 masters runners. Perlman, a 2000 Spanish River grad, averaged 6 minutes, 21 seconds per mile on the 26.2-mile layout. She was the 95th overall finisher for females and 715th overall out of the 9,620 runners.
Perlman was the second fastest female runner out of Florida finishing just behind 32-year-old Ann Centner (Tallahassee) who ran 2:45.01 and was 73rd. The next closest marathoner from the Sunshine State was Orlando’s Jereny Rivera, 31, who clocked a 2:48.42.
“This was my first time running three marathons in one year, so I think my body was a little more tired during this race than I expected,” said Perlman, who also ran the Boston Marathon (April) and Chicago (October). Last year, she only ran Boston and the CIM. Her time in this year’s race was a 20-second PR.
“I ran a super consistent race,” said Perlman who founded the public relations firm BlueIvy Communications in 2011. “My goal was to go through halfway running 6:15-6:20 miles, and then pick it up as needed from there. I felt fine but not as poppy as I had felt in Chicago.”
Her splits were closer to 6:18-6:24, and she said she knew she was off the pace at the halfway mark.
“I was able to finish strong, passing other runners through the final 5K, but just didn’t have the turnover to drop my mile paces enough to drop the overall average,” she said. “Finishing up in the final miles, I focused on passing people and finishing strong. I am happy with my personal best, as I know we should always celebrate PRs no matter what. But I definitely wanted a little more out of myself.”
It was her eighth marathon since 2018. It was her sixth race under 3 hours and fifth under 2 hours, 50 minutes.
“I’m proud of my consistency as a marathoner, and how I approached and raced CIM,” Perlman said. “I’m just disappointed I didn’t have a little more in me for the day. That said, I’m excited for my next buildup and to race in London in 2024.”
Perlman had signed up for CIM during the summer thinking it would be a backup race to Chicago (Oct 8).
“If Chicago went super well, and I thought I could drop my time a little more, I wanted that opportunity,” Perlman said. “And if Chicago was a hot day and didn’t go well, CIM could be a great backup.
“After I ran a personal best at Chicago (2:46:44), CIM became an opportunity to drop below 2:45,” she said. “I went out fast in Chicago and my last 5 or so miles were harder and slower as a result. I thought, if I run CIM more conservatively from the start and finish strong, a sub 2:45 (6:18 pace) should be easy.”
She said she was “super confident, ready to get the job done” at the CIM, and even though she ran a PR, it wasn’t the result she wanted.
“It was also nice to head out to CIM with a few of the runners I train with on Sunday mornings as well,” Perlman said. “There were four of us racing from the Boca Tri/Fleet Feet running group.
“I am resting up a bit, and taking it easy,” said Perlman, who next week is headed to Buenos Aires with Team USA to run in the Maccabi Pan American Games (Dec. 27-Jan. 4).
“I’m excited to race in the mile (Dec. 29), 5K (Dec. 31), and the half marathon (Jan. 4) with my U.S. teammates and more importantly, represent Jews,” she said. “This is my seventh time competing with Maccabi USA and it’s always a special experience. After the Maccabi Games, I will go straight into my next marathon buildup. I’m running the London Marathon in April 2024 for the first time.”
