Results/Photos

Date: February 8, 2025 Participant: Michael Ottesen #17810 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 Division Finishes Michael Ottesen, a 29-year-old from Provo, UT, participated in the 2025 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon, showcasing a steady performance across 13.1 miles. With an overall time of 1:06:30, he maintained an impressive average pace of 5:04 min/mile. His opening mile split was an assertive 5:01, placing him initially in first, while demonstrating strong mid-race adjustments with a notably fast 4:28 split in the third mile. Michael consistently ranked well in his division (M25-29), finishing second or third in several of the miles, highlighting strong intra-division competition. His best divisional pace was in the first mile where he led the field, and he maintained top-four placement throughout. His pacing varied slightly, with the slowest split being 5:30 in mile seven. However, closing with a quick 4:51 at mile 13 demonstrates a strong finish. Focusing on maintaining the brisk sub-4:55 paces seen in some miles could enhance future race times.