The race, in three figures
The race, in words
In the Open division at Mechelen 2026, Paul Muhlenkord crossed the line in 1:22:09: 672nd of 1,363 men, faster than 51% of the field.
Legs and stations told different stories: 75% of the field beaten on the runs, 37% on the stations. If there was time left out there, it was on the sled push, 1:05 behind the median. Paced to finish: the second half went 1:56 better against the middle of the field than the first.
This was a quick course. Against their other races this season, the people who raced Mechelen gained about 3:00. That was 2:16 off the time at Malaga 2025.
Eight blocks
Bar = field beaten · tick = median
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Block 01 7:20Running 1 3:13v median −0:28
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Block 02 8:00Running 2 4:08v median −0:29
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Block 03 9:47Running 3 4:27v median −0:26
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Block 04 10:50Running 4 4:16v median −0:37
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Block 05 9:09Running 5 4:27v median −0:36
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Block 06 7:09Running 6 5:06v median +0:10
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Block 07 10:00Running 7 4:18v median −0:36
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Block 08 11:23Running 8 5:03v median −0:26
Roxzone, per block
Approach · Exit 8:37
Against the middle of your field
Men · n = 1354
A pace, not a person: at every mat, the middle of the 1,354 men who finished.