Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Alex Bustamante #11106 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Strong Start Shows Potential for Future Races Alex Bustamante delivered a solid performance at the 2026 Mesa Marathon, completing the 26.2-mile course with an elapsed time of 3:02:05 and maintaining an average marathon pace of 6:56 minutes per mile. The early miles showcased strong splits, with the first three miles averaging approximately a 6:15 pace, demonstrating Alex's initial endurance and speed. Despite a deceleration later in the race, with split times gradually increasing beyond the halfway mark, Alex managed to stay competitive and completed the race among the top 8% of the field. Notably, Alex finished 42nd in the M35-39 division, highlighting a valuable benchmark for future improvements. The consistency in pacing through the final miles is commendable, as the pace varied only slightly, remaining under 7:30 min/mile in the latter stages. Focus on maintaining earlier splits and managing pace shifts could yield even better outcomes in upcoming events. Keep building on that strong foundation!