Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Melissa Althaus #20549 Race: 2025 Mesa Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles Weather: Perfect running conditions at 63°F, partly cloudy skies, and a slight breeze from the east in Mesa, AZ.

Consistent Improvement and Strong Finish Melissa Althaus, running for Team Big Steppas, completed the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon in 2:12:06, maintaining a solid average pace of 10:05 min/mile and finishing 92nd in the F45-49 division. Her performance demonstrated impressive consistency after each mile marker. Notably, Melissa achieved her fastest split between miles 11 and 12, clocking in at a pace of 9:39 min/mile. She advanced significantly throughout the race, climbing from 137th to 92nd in her division, suggesting strong endurance and race strategy. Comparing with her past performances in the 10K events at the 2023 and 2024 Mesa Marathons, Melissa showed remarkable growth. Her pace improved from an average of over 13 min/mile to just above 10 min/mile in this latest event. To continue her upward trajectory, focusing on the mid-race miles where there was a slight drop in pace could help maintain speed throughout her races. Her progress is commendable and points towards successful future endeavors.