Have You Thanked Your Pacer?

When it comes to running a half marathon at a particular pace, you have a few options:

1. One going to Runner’s World Website to print a wristband http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/marathonpaceguide/0,7167,s6-239-283-317-0-0-0-0-0,00.html

2. Running Times website http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=6763

3. Run PaceCalc which is an iPhone app, but there are all kinds of apps to help with this also

4. You can find a pacer if your race provides them

5. Talk your faster friend into registering for the race and running with you to your target pace

If you’ve run or watched a marathon or half marathon you may have seen a pacer or two. These are those individuals who wear the time marker typically on a long stick raised in the air so you can locate them at the start or during the race if you “get lost”. Some dress up in fun or crazy gear and some just wear the regular running gear and blend in other than the extension that is attached to the arm.

Let’s face it if you are running that far, a few laughs and cheering along the way can really help if you have a crazy, fun pacer.  For instance, when “that guy” who happens to appear at EVERY marathon at the half way point with the sign stating the obvious “You Are Halfway There!” NO KIDDING!  “Who gave you the date and time of this event?” “Note to self, ensure he gets the wrong date for next year.” These are some various thoughts that may go through your head at that point-at least the “kind” thoughts anyway. If you’ve not been fortunate enough to run a half or full marathon, trust me when you do, you will be WELL aware of each mile you have run.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have a person pacer you can use your Sharpie BFF and mark up your arm from the paces you can find from the above websites. This picture was my left arm (OCD Melinda wears her watch on her left arm EVERY race) from the PF Chang’s Rock and Roll Marathon. I refer to it as “light reading” during the marathon. Unfortunately I made it to mile 23 on target and then had a serious sugar issue and was put into an ambulance. Other than the super stud runners I was able to meet at that race, I also got to see Tiffany Amber Theissen as she ran the half…dating myself. Setting that aside, it is a great race and (even though it’s a little blurry) you can see how I set up my splits. My arm is only so long so I had it all laid out in 5 mile increments. If you are blessed with a forearm longer than mine OR have handwriting that is not as large, feel free to put what you can on it.

If you are lucky enough to have a friend who is willing to pace you, make sure they register for the event. As long as they are registered they can run with you (legally) and help pace you. We want to encourage all people who are running the race to register and not be a “race bandit”. (see article http://anywhere5k.com/2012/04/race-bandit/)

Best of luck in your next race and hopefully you’ll give the half marathon or marathon a try! Get your gait on and be sure if you use a pacer, thank them…they are doing it to help you achieve a race goal.