Date: Oct. 5, 2025 Participant: Mark French #15267 Race: 2025 Portland Half Marathon Distance: 13.1 miles

Strong Start with Consistent Pacing Mark French displayed an impressive performance in the 2025 Portland Marathon's Half Marathon, completing the race in an official time of 1:06:38. Starting with an outstanding pace of 4:11 minutes per mile for the first mile, Mark's early lead showcased his potential. In the subsequent miles, he maintained a strong pace, varying between 4:51 and 5:05 minutes per mile, eventually securing an overall third-place finish in a field of 5,623 participants. His initial splits reflect a strong pacing strategy as he transitioned from leading the race to maintaining pace in the top three positions. Mark's performance is marked by impressive control and endurance, with splits staying consistently around the 5:00-minute per mile mark after the first mile. This consistency is crucial in long-distance running and reflects effective training. While his placement shifted after the fifth mile into third, maintaining such a quick and steady pace throughout is notable. Continuing to focus on split management can help in optimizing race strategy for future events.