Results/Photos

Date: Feb. 14, 2026 Participant: Zandile Hendel #11994 Race: 2026 Mesa Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Pacing Consistency with a Strong Start Zandile Hendel, representing the team EVOLVE UNITED, ran the 2026 Mesa Marathon with noticeable pacing consistency for most of the race. Her average pace of 7:39 min/mile secured her a respectable finish time of 3:20:34 over the 26.2-mile distance. Within her age division, F35-39, she maintained a strong presence, achieving 18th place out of 93 participants. Notably, Zandile demonstrated her strongest pace at mile 4 with a split of 6:57 min/mile, showcasing her initial strength. Her performance was marked by dynamic changes in split times, particularly maintaining sub-8-minute miles until mile 20. There was a noticeable pacing shift after the 20-mile mark, resulting in slightly slower splits in the final miles. This suggests a potential focus area for future races could be endurance pacing strategies in the latter stages of the course. Nevertheless, Zandile's efforts in the marathon exemplified a commendable balance between speed and endurance.