The historic performance by Alex Yee that made him the second-fastest British marathon runner ever and why it matters.

A New Mark in British Marathon History

At the Valencia Marathon on December 7, 2025, Alex Yee recorded an astonishing time of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 38 seconds (2:06:38)  good enough to place him second on the all-time list of British male marathoners. (Athletics Weekly)

This performance moves him ahead of the previous No. 2, Emile Cairess  whose best marathon time was 2:06:46. (TRI247)

The only Briton to have gone faster remains Mo Farah, with his 2:05:11 from the 2018 Chicago Marathon. (Athletics Weekly)

From Olympic Triathlon Gold to Marathon Breakthrough

Yee’s background isn’t in pure marathon running.

He is best known as a world-class triathlete: he won Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games (mixed triathlon) and has achieved major success in swim-bike-run format. (Wikipedia)

Earlier in 2025, he attempted his first ever marathon at the London Marathon 2025  finishing in 2:11:08 for 14th place.

That alone was already notable for a debut, but far from the record-setting run he would produce in Valencia. (The Independent)

Showing ambition and willingness to test himself outside his comfort zone, Yee focused on marathon training after the London race.

He ended up cutting more than four and a half minutes off his debut time in Valencia a huge leap for just a second marathon. (Yahoo News UK)

The Valencia Performance: Smart Pacing, Strong Result

What makes the 2:06:38 not just impressive but strategically remarkable  is how Yee ran the race.

According to reports, he passed the halfway mark in 1:03:32, and then ran the second half in 1:03:06, meaning he pulled off a negative split.

In marathoning, that’s often a sign of disciplined pacing and proper energy management. (TRI247)

Moreover, he achieved this despite weather in Valencia not being textbook-ideal: “warmer-than-ideal” conditions were reported, which makes his time all the more impressive. (TRI247)

It was a strong team effort too  Yee was paced for much of the race by his training partners (including Emile Cairess and Phil Sesemann), showing that his move into marathon running was methodical and supported. (TRI247)

What This Means  Beyond Just a Time

• Proving the versatility of elite triathletes:

• For an athlete whose main sport is triathlon, not distance-running, to produce such a time underscores how transferable skills (endurance, running economy, stamina) from triathlon can be at the highest level when honed for marathon running.

• A wake-up call for British marathon scene: With Yee now second all-time, it sharpens competition within Britain’s distance-running ranks; more depth could emerge as more athletes eye fast times or road racing.

• Potential long-term impact — though maybe not immediate:

• Interestingly, despite this breakthrough, early reports suggest Yee might revert his focus back to triathlon full time, with a view toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles rather than another marathon push. (The Guardian)

• Inspiration and visibility: A high-profile athlete crossing over successfully brings more attention to marathon running, possibly inspiring younger athletes especially multi-disciplinary ones to consider the marathon as an achievable challenge.

Reactions: Awe, Surprise and Respect

Among the running and triathlon community (especially on social media), the response to Yee’s result has been a mix of astonishment and admiration. On Reddit’s r/ukathletics, one user summed it up:

“I don’t think people realise how ridiculous this actually is.

Yee isn’t a runner, he’s a tri-athlete and putting up a time most runners would never even get near.” (Reddit)

Another wrote (on r/trackandfield):

“Alex Yee is a machine … that gold in Paris was a surprise Then suddenly he was charging at the leader like a steam train.” (Reddit)

Of course, some voices urged caution reminding that a top-class marathon career usually needs consistency over multiple races, not just a one-off stellar run. (Reddit)

Still  the sense is clear. For many, even fans of triathlon, this performance has redefined what’s possible when stepping up to the marathon distance.

What’s Next for Alex Yee and for British Marathoning

Given the magnitude of this achievement, many will wonder: can Yee challenge Mo Farah’s British record? At 2:05:11, Farah’s mark still stands — but Yee is now just over a minute and a half behind.

However, given his commitment to triathlon and the 2028 Olympic cycle, it seems unlikely he’ll chase that record in the very near future.

As one recent article noted: while the Valencia run “hints at further potential,” Yee plans “to return full-time to triathlon” and is “not expected to run another marathon until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.” (The Guardian)

Still, his performance may shift how British athletics thinks about cross-discipline athletes.

Perhaps other triathletes, or multi-sport talents, will consider dipping into marathon  or coaches may begin to approach athlete development with broader versatility in mind.

For the fans and the sport, this is an exciting moment. British marathoning, long dominated by a handful of names, just got a shot of fresh energy.