Once mostly a quirky mid-winter event to stay fit and motivated in the Upper Midwest, indoor marathon running has become a real thing. So much so that C.J. Albertson ran a time fast enough to surpass the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard en route to setting a new indoor marathon world record on April 13 in New York. Albertson, a 25-year-old runner from Fresno, CA, used a blazing kick to win the fourth annual Columbia University Irving Medical Center & New York Presbyterian Indoor Marathon in 2:17:59.4, or 5:16 per mile. Albertson wore a pair of Brooks Hyperion racing flats that he modified by removing the tongues and slicing slits in the side to make more room in the toe box for his wide feet.

Albertson is a former 3000-meter steeplechase runner for Arizona State and currently the Clovis Community College cross-country coach. He’s already qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in Atlanta based on his 2:16:45 win at the Modesto Marathon on March 31. Albertson won $7000 for his efforts ($3000 for the victory and $4000 for the new world record.)

Steph Pezzullo won the women’s race in 2:42:11. The race entailed running 211 consecutive 200-meter laps around the track at The Armory and for the fourth straight year it produced an indoor world record.