Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Jonathan Montano #12772 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Consistent Early Splits but a Slower Finish Jonathan Montano maintained a consistent pace in the early stages of the marathon, averaging an impressive 6:50 min/mile for the first 19 miles. Notable surges included mile 1 and mile 11, both completed at 6:44 min/mile, highlighting a strong start and mid-race push. In terms of division, Jonathan's position ranged from 34th to 62nd, chief among them being a return to 34th during the 11th mile. While Jonathan's overall pace slightly slowed towards the end, averaging 7:07 min/mile, he completed the race in 3:06:45. Compared to the previous year's performance at 2:59:58, with a faster overall pace of 6:52 min/mile, it is clear that a bit of endurance work could prove beneficial. In particular, focus might be placed on minimizing the pace decline observed from mile 22 onwards. With minor adjustments, regaining and potentially surpassing the former personal record looks feasible for upcoming races.