There’s a time for everything

Marathon: Trinity Classical Academy coach Timothy Kahovec wins the Santa Clarita Marathon

Santa Clarita resident and Trinity Classical Academy running coach Timmy Kahovec took home his first marathon win on his home turf Sunday at the Santa Clarita Marathon.

“It feels surreal,” he said. “I ran the L.A. Marathon in March, and I was faster by about 12 minutes.”

Faster Sunday, Kahovec had a 15-minute lead on his opponents and won with a time of 2:40:42. By the halfway mark, he said he knew he could pull out a win.

“I was either second or third through (the first) 13 miles, and I was feeling

good,” he said. “I thought I could do it again

(through the second half).”

Kahovec trained for about 14 weeks prior to the race, much of it with the athletes he coaches. “I run with those kids just about every day.”

The women’s race winner, Dolores Valencia, traveled from Chino Hills for the race.

“I love this course, so I keep coming back,” she said.

This was the 55-year-old’s third Santa Clarita Marathon win, and the second marathon she’s run in the past two weeks.

“I just ran one 12 days ago in Ventura,” she said. “I wanted to take the challenge and run back to back. I’m getting prepared for London. I’m going to go run the elite masters division, but it’s six days after (the) Boston (Marathon), so I wanted to see what it felt like. It’s a lot of work, but fun.”

Many were hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon, including second-place finisher Chris Blecher, who finished with a time of 2:55:08.

“It hurts, but I’m happy,” he said, adding, “I’m going to Boston — that was my goal for the year.”

Blecher recently moved to San Jose, but he returned to Santa Clarita for the marathon. “I always like running this race.”

Gilbert Bernall/The Signa Timothy Kahovec ,center, leads a pack of runners as they make the first stretch down the first leg of the race on Valencia Boulevard competing in the Santa Clarita Marathon on Sunday.

Gilbert Bernal/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) (Above) Carlos Larios, winner of the Santa Clarita Half-Marathon passes the finish line with a finish time of 1 hour, 14 minutes on Sunday. (Below) Jessica Reyes, crosses the finish line in the Santa Clarita Half-Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 24 minutes.