Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Zach Smith #13872 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.

Consistent Start, Challenging Finish Zach Smith, representing Atlanta Run Club, demonstrated a strong and consistent start at the 2025 Mesa Marathon. Throughout the initial stages, Zach showcased impressive time management and pacing. He maintained a steady pace between 6:06 and 6:20 minutes per mile for the first 12 miles, reflecting his strategic control and ability to keep a consistent pace early on. By mile 9, he briefly dropped in the standings but managed a quick recovery, with a notable uptick in pace during the subsequent miles, improving his place in his division substantially. As the marathon progressed, Zach experienced a gradual decline in pace, with a significant slowdown noted from mile 19 onwards. His pace ranged from 7:11 to 8:47 minutes per mile in the latter stages, ultimately finishing with an average pace of 6:58 minutes per mile overall. He completed the marathon in an impressive time of 3:02:53, placing 45th in his division out of 3624 participants. A subtle focus on maintaining that consistent early tempo throughout might yield even better outcomes in future races.