This Saturday will be my first time ever pacing a race. Holly and I were asked to pace the 1:40 group for the
Top of Utah Half Marathon. To say that I am FREAKING out would be a bit of an understatement! I know that I can finish in that time but for some reason knowing that other people are counting on me to get them to the finish freaks my freak!!! I looked up the average pace for that time and it is about a 7:40 min mile! That is very doable but what if I am having an off day? What if I trip and fall on my face? A pacer shouldn't do that...not that I've ever done that but with my luck holding a pacer sign might just send me over the edge.
This was taken at the
TOU Marathon last year. If I can do the full I can do the half right?!?
The only thing getting me to the starting line is knowing that
Holly will be there with me. She is MUCH faster than I am so for her to do a 1:40 half is like me dropping and busting out 100 push-ups...not hard! Okay, maybe it's a little hard but I can still do it on any given day. So what happens on September 8th when I have to pace the
Mt. Nebo Half Marathon all by myself? Just typing this is sending me into a full blown panic attack!!! Talk about pacing...I'm going to wear my shoes out pacing this kitchen floor ;) Actually, after Saturday's race I will be pacing the 1:45 groups and that I am comfortable with!
I have been asked to pace the
Big Cottonwood Canyon Half and also the
Halloween Half. The only race that I have actually done is the
Halloween Half (read about it there) so that one I feel comfortable with, I know the course and let's face it it's by far the most entertaining race around! Plus I can just wear a mask and no one has to know that it was me if we don't make it ;)
I figure I will try this first race and if pacing isn't for me than I can easily get out of the others. I really hope that I LOVE it! Not only do I get to do races for FREE dollars but if I can help someone(hopefully many someoneS) attain a goal then I will be pleased as punch! I also think it will be nice to do these races without having the stress of "racing" them. I love doing races but hate the stress of having to PR at every race. Sometimes it's nice to have a change of scenery and just enjoy the run, which is what I hope pacing is for me. I hope that I can get over the stress that is put on me and just concentrate on the people that I am pacing. Get to know them and hear their story, maybe even make a friend or two ;) After the
Utah Valley Half Marathon a cute little gal came up and thanked me for "pacing" her. She said, "I just told myself to keep up with the tiny, little girl wearing bright pink!" :) She made my day. I only wish that I would have known I was pacing her so that I could have given her words of encouragement along the way!
Have you ever followed a pacer? If so, what did they do or not do that you liked?
If you have ever paced a race do you have any words of wisdom?
