Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Valerie Palacios #17827 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 Pacing with Strong Finishing Splits Valerie demonstrated a steady performance at the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon. Starting with a 10:39 min/mile pace for the first mile, she gradually improved her pace, achieving a standout 9:15 min/mile on the third split. Her split times reflect a strategic rhythm, maintaining an average pace of 10:11 min/mile over the race's 13.1 miles. Notably, Valerie managed to bring her pace down to 9:25 min/mile at the 12th mile. This showcases her ability to conserve energy and push harder towards the end, concluding with an impressive elapsed time of 2:13:24. Her placements were solid in a competitive field of 3859 runners. Holding 151st in her division and 917th in gender, Valerie's tactical pacing enabled her to ascend in rankings as the race progressed, especially after recovering positions towards the end of the half marathon. A focus on maintaining consistency in mid-race splits could further enhance her future performances.