Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Zikun Zheng #19216 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.

Steady Pace Beginning, Late Gradual Slowdown Zikun Zheng demonstrated consistency and determination throughout the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon. Initially, Zikun maintained a solid pace, clocking an 11:05 min/mile in the first mile. Impressively, his speed picked up slightly in the second mile with a split pace of 10:12 min/mile, one of his fastest during the race. His ranks were competitive, placing 152nd in the M25-29 division after the first mile. As the race progressed, around mile 6, his pace began to slow, registering a 14:17 min/mile. Despite the gradual increase in pace time, Zikun finished strong at 3:03:07, marking an overall pace of 13:58 min/mile. It's notable that during mile 8, Zikun improved his position in the M25-29 division by moving up to 179th place before settling back into the 212th spot. For future races, focusing on maintaining the initial pace in later miles might help achieve even better results.