Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Andrew Bishop #10985 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistent Start with Opportunities for Late Race Strategy Andrew Bishop kicked off the 2026 Mesa Marathon strong, maintaining a consistent pace below 7:00 min/mile for nearly half the course. His early splits were impressive, peaking with a pace of 6:32 min/mile at mile 1. From mile 9 to 11, he managed to regain pace, notably clocking a 6:42 min/mile for his 9th mile. This section shows his ability to adapt through the mid-race stages. However, the latter part of the marathon presented challenges. By mile 16, Andrew's pace dropped to over 10:30 min/mile, and he completed mile 21 at a pace of 12:52 min/mile, significantly affecting his overall time. The slowdown resulted in a finish time of 3:47:23, with an average pace of 8:40 min/mile. For future races, focusing on maintaining a steady pace after the halfway mark could enhance overall performance. Continued endurance training along with strategic pacing can aid in reducing late-race deceleration.