Almost everyone has hopped in a car and driven 12 miles to the next destination. Fifteen minutes later and you’ve arrived. But hardly anyone can say they have walked 12.4 miles in an hour and 35 minutes.

That’s exactly what Parkersburg native Matt Boyles did on Saturday morning at the Ogden Newspapers Classic 20K Walk, finishing in a blistering 1:39:34 to shatter the course record of 2:07.58.

He calls himself an “average, small-town Ohio boy” but this 23-year-old’s athletic ability has taken him to races all over the world.

Two weeks ago, he competed for Team USA in the World Cup 20K Walk in Spain. His talent earned him the ranking of 74th in the world.

Boyle said, “you have to have consistency and prepare yourself to build endurance to walk 12.4 miles in all conditions.”

Susan Randall of Beavercreek, Ohio has only been training for the 20K walk for a year but she was the first woman across the finish line in 2:02:25.

“I used to watch my son, John, participate in track and field and saw the walkers practicing and thought it looked fun,” Randall said.

Moving from China less than two year ago, she’s found a natural ability to take part in American racing.

Randall already competed in a New York City 20K race walking event.

She said it’s becoming a family affair, noting even her husband is involved in competitions.

Both walkers commented on the difficulty of 29th Street Hill since most walking races don’t include hills.

“There was one monster hill,” said Boyles, “but this is the best race I know.

“The hill is tough but it goes with the territory.”

Randall said that it was the downhill stretch more than the uphill climb that was “a killer”.

Both walkers are coached by Vince Peters, the 5K Ogden Classic runner winner, who has been coaching since 1979.

Distance running is a challenge, but race walking requires a form and technical skill that not all athletes can perfect.

“I actually didn’t like it (race walking) at first,” said Boyles, “but it is more disciplined and I enjoyed competing.

“Now, it’s really fun and it gives me the chance to compete and achieve goals.”

Boyle’s interest in race walking began at the University of Rio Grande.

His collegiate journey led him to national races and then the World Cup Trials in Hauppage, N.Y., where he earned a spot on the U.S. National Race Walking team that competed in the World Cup finals in Spain earlier this month.

“Just getting back from Spain two weeks ago, race walking isn’t usually something you want to do every couple weeks,” said Boyles.

“(The) Breaks should be more around a month before competing again.”

His strict training regimen finds him on the roads six days a week, often for as long as two hours a day, in order to develop the endurance to compete at an elite level.

“The Lord pulls me through every time and gives me the ability to achieve great things,” Boyle said.