Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Gina Hernan #12009 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistent Start, Steady Finish Gina began the marathon with an impressive pace, clocking an 8:33 min/mile in the first mile. Her performance in the early stages was strong, especially between miles 1 and 4. A significant portion of her race saw mile splits under 9 minutes per mile, demonstrating controlled speed and stamina. The initial five-mile span saw Gina maintaining a strong connection to her initial pace, strategically placing herself at 18th in her age division. As the race progressed, maintaining a consistent pace became challenging, with an average pace settling at 10:37 min/mile. Her positioning in the F55-59 division fluctuated but ended at 38th. Notably, during miles 22 and 25, she showed strong pacing with sustained improvement in her position within her age division. This demonstrates potential for focusing on maintaining middle and late-race pace in future events, keeping closures similar to her strong beginnings. Overall, execution was steady and commendable.