Date: Oct. 5, 2025 Participant: Natalya Mendez #11855 Race: 2025 Portland Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

A Consistent Start with Strong Middle Splits Natalya Mendez from Salem, OR, delivered a disciplined performance at the 2025 Portland Marathon. She maintained a steady pace in the initial miles, clocking consistent 9:20 min/mile splitts for the first three miles. Notably, her performance saw an improvement during the 4th to 6th miles, where she ran each mile at an impressive split pace of 8:51 min/mile. Her consistency in these middle miles highlights a strategic effort to sustain energy early in the race. As the race progressed, Natalya's pace understandably reduced, with her average settling at 10:07 min/mile by the end. Between miles 23 and 25, she observed her slowest paces of 11:57, and 12:26 min/mile, which likely impacted her finishing position. Going forward, incorporating more endurance training in the latter half of a marathon might enhance her consistency and reduce pace reduction towards the end of long races. Overall, she's shown a solid base to build future marathon performances.