Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Matt Fernwalt #11637 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistent Early Pace, Weakened Finish Matt Fernwalt completed the 2026 Mesa Marathon in a time of 3:54:39, maintaining an overall pace of 8:57 minutes per mile. Throughout the initial marathon segments, Matt showed remarkable consistency, posting splits predominantly in the 8:24 to 8:30 min/mile range. Notably, he achieved his fastest split at mile 4 with a pace of 8:20, demonstrating strong form early in the race. As the race progressed, however, pace began to slow after mile 18, where he logged a 9:11 min/mile. The gradual decrease in pace was more pronounced in the final miles, leading to a 9:48 min/mile at mile 26. Despite these challenges, Matts performance remains commendable. For future races, focusing on endurance in the later stages could yield stronger results, given the strength shown in earlier segments of this marathon.