Date: Oct. 5, 2025 Participant: Heather Kaczmarek #11394 Race: 2025 Portland Marathon Distance: 26.2 miles

Steady Improvement and Strategic Finish Heather Kaczmarek's performance in the 2025 Portland Marathon showcased consistent improvement throughout the race. She finished the marathon in 4:42:29, maintaining an overall pace of 10:46 min/mile. Noteworthy is her ability to improve pace during the first half of the race, dropping from 12:26 min/mile at the start to 10:23 min/mile by mile 14. Her placement improved significantly from 2586th in the early stages to 1955th overall, indicating effective pacing and strategy. Particularly impressive was her mid-race surge; between miles 3 and 5, she consistently recorded split paces of 9:37 min/mile. While she experienced some pace adjustments in the latter stages, she maintained a relatively steady finish. Her strongest division placement was 69th during the final mile. Heather's race suggests an ability to keep a steady pace and adapt during the event. Focusing on maintaining those faster split times consistently could enhance future performances. Great effort overall!