Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Melissa Picard #17939 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.

Strong Finish with Negative Splits Melissa Picard demonstrated impressive pacing at the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon. Starting with a steady 7:30 min/mile pace for the first mile, she consistently increased her pace hitting a peak split time of 6:35 min/mile by mile 13. Her overall elapsed pace was an excellent 7:07 min/mile over a 13.1-mile distance. Notably, she was strong enough in the later miles to achieve negative splits, a fantastic sign of endurance and strategy execution. In terms of placement, Melissa finished 17th in the F40-44 division out of a large field of participants. Her strongest positions were at the 12th mile with a 14th place finish in her division and 102nd among females, showcasing her capacity to maintain speed in the final stages of the race. To further enhance her performance, maintaining a more balanced split pace throughout the race could allow for a stronger placement finish overall. Keep up the good work and continue to refine your pacing strategy for even greater results!