Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Luisa Arias #14488 Race: 2026 Mesa Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Pacing Strategy Refined Over the Distance Luisa Arias maintained a commendable and consistent pacing throughout the 2026 Mesa Marathon Half Marathon. Starting with a brisk first mile at a 7:05 pace, she adapted her strategy by slightly reducing her speed to 7:23 in the second mile, stabilizing her pace further with minor variations as the race progressed. Notably, her split at Mile 11 was 7:31, showing her ability to maintain focus despite fatigue. Overall, Luisa completed the 13.1-mile distance in 1:40:59, averaging a 7:42 pace. Her placement dynamics in the female 30-34 division saw a bit of a fluctuating yet steady improvement, peaking at 30th in Mile 2 and wrapping up the race in 35th out of a total of 4125 participants. Perhaps focusing on maintaining her initial mile pace for a few more miles could yield even more impressive results in future races. Excellent work representing the "Easier than the PhD" team!