Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Kevin Gardner #23149 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 Notable Late-Stage Speed Kevin Gardner's performance at the 2025 Mesa Marathon displayed consistent pace management, with a total time of 1:56:18 over the half marathon distance. Notable improvements in the later stages helped Kevin achieve an overall pace of 8:52 min/mile. His initial miles averaged around 9:20 min/mile, but Kevin showed remarkable acceleration, particularly in the final miles. He clocked his fastest split in mile 12 at 7:46 min/mile, demonstrating strong pacing strategy in the latter part. Throughout the race, Kevin maintained a steady stride, significantly elevating his standings in the last few miles. Starting slower, he gradually improved from a division rank of 84 in the early stages to an impressive final rank of 72 in the M40-44 category. This strategic pacing allowed him to climb notably in overall position as well, jumping over 200 places by the finish. Focusing on consistency early on while leveraging speed in later miles proved effective in enhancing his overall performance.