Michael Wardian wins National Marathon for fifth time in six years

Everything about Michael Wardian and his performance in Saturday’s sixth National Marathon was normal. The 36-year-old Arlington resident was in his usual post-race spot outside RFK Stadium: in the winners’ circle, with a giant check in hand. As he described what it was like to win this event for the fifth time in six years, his 4-year-old son Pierce circled at his feet and his 2-year-old son Grant dangled from his neck.

Wardian is a local product (Oakton High) and former college athlete (lacrosse at Michigan State) and works as an international shipping broker at a Georgetown company.

When it comes to running, however, Wardian is far from normal. He’s a pavement-pounding fiend with plans to run 17 marathons this year — “about the same as last year,” he said — and eight or nine ultramarathons. And with a first-place time of 2:23:01, Wardian proved again that he is the king of Saturday’s event.

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