Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Cheryl Louden #12510 Race: 2025 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles Weather: Perfect running conditions at 63°F, partly cloudy skies, and a slight breeze from the east in Mesa, AZ.

Sustained Effort with a Strong Start Cheryl began her marathon with a consistent pacing strategy, maintaining an 8:19 min/mile during the first mile, and closely holding this pace for the majority of the early race. Her strong start saw her finish the first 10 miles with an average pace just around 8:30 min/mile, positioning herself well within her age division. Towards the latter half of the marathon, Cheryl experienced a notable decrease in pacing, particularly between miles 23 and 26, where her pace decreased significantly, reaching 19:31 min/mile for mile 23. Despite this slowdown, Cheryl admirably completed her race in 4:17:30. While she placed 105th in her division, the strong opening splits demonstrate the potential for pacing adjustments to maintain speed throughout the entire course. To improve for future events, focusing on endurance could help sustain the excellent start through to the finish.