Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Michael Wallitner #18946 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 Amidst Increasing Challenges Michael Wallitner displayed consistent pacing in the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon, marking an official finish time of 2:11:37. The half marathon spanned 13.1 miles, where Michael had an overall pace of 10:02 min/mile. Starting strong, he clocked his fastest split on mile 3 at 8:48 min/mile, indicating early potential for a robust performance. Despite a slight deceleration following mile 3, he maintained a steady approach. His ranking showed movement, beginning at 25th in the M55-59 division, concluding at 63rd, illustrating room for sharpening his finish strategy. Impressively, Michael repeatedly managed a cohesive rhythm throughout the race. However, the progressive slowing was notable, with mile 11 marking his slowest split at 10:59 min/mile. Maintaining an earlier pace might be beneficial to future outcomes. Michael’s determination shone through as he navigated varied pacing across a field of 3,859 participants, achieving a commendable 1004th in his gender. Continuing to focus on even pacing could enhance performance further.