Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Gale Watkins #13861 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistency with Determination through Shifting Paces Gale Watkins participated in the 2026 Mesa Marathon completing the 26.2-mile race with an elapsed time of 6:43:58 and an average pace of 15:25 min/mile. Starting strong with a first-mile split of 10:41 min/mile, there was a consistent, gradual increase in pace over the race. The pace varied, from an early fast pace of 11:04 min/mile at mile two, slowing to 24:23 min/mile in the final mile. During the mid-course, between miles 5 and 12, the splits ranged from 11:47 to 13:23 min/mile, showing a steady slowing trend. In terms of placement, Watkins ranked 25th in his division M70-74, competing with a field of 3509 runners. The final splits highlighted moments where the pace exceeded 19 min/mile, such as at mile 21 and 22. Reflecting on previous races, especially the 5:40:14 finish in 2025, suggest a focus could be on consistent endurance to improve the overall pace in future marathons.