Twelve-Year-Old Runner Completes Hartford Half Marathon
Malakai Inahuazo finished the Eversource half-marathon with a time of 1:36:57.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Running
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Twelve-year-old Malakai Inahuazo finished the Eversource half-marathon in Hartford with a time of 1:36:57. He placed first in his age group and 315th overall among 4,276 participants.
Why it matters
Inahuazo, who logged 364 training miles to prepare for the event, says he was inspired to improve his running performance by the book Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins.
Inahuazo finished the course in 1:36:57, ranking 315th out of 4,276 total participants. The race saw a winning time of 1:04:01 recorded by Christopher Collet.
The players
Malakai Inahuazo
A 12-year-old runner from Guilford who finished the Eversource half-marathon first in his age group.
Christopher Collet
The winner of the Eversource half-marathon who completed the course in 1:04:01.
David Goggins
The author of the book Can't Hurt Me, which served as inspiration for Inahuazo to improve his running.
The details
To prepare for the race, Inahuazo logged 364 miles and participated in the Race for Chase youth triathlon program while managing weekly allergy shots. He achieved a first-place finish within the 12-14 age division during the event in Hartford.
Timeline
October 10, 2026: Malakai Inahuazo completed the Eversource half-marathon.
December 6, 2026: Inahuazo plans to compete in the CLA Blue Back Mitten 5K.
April 2027: Inahuazo aims to participate in a half marathon in Vermont.
Season Trajectory
This performance highlights the shifting demographic in competitive endurance racing toward younger participants entering established half-marathon events. Such finishes influence the competitive landscape for age-group rankings throughout the regional racing calendar.
Inahuazo finished in the top 7.5% of all participants with his time of 1:36:57. This placement effectively secures his status as a top contender in local 12-14 age-group categories for future road race events.
The takeaway
Goal-setting through literature can provide a powerful mental framework for young athletes pursuing physical endurance goals. Preparing for long-distance events requires a disciplined commitment to training volume and holistic health maintenance.
What happens next
Inahuazo is scheduled to participate in the CLA Blue Back Mitten 5K on December 6, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local road races, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Patch.
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