Race: STWM – Half Marathon
Date: Oct 16, 2016
1:40 PACER REPORT
This was my 11th time pacing Toronto’s gold label marathon, but my first time doing the half. I thought it was time for a change, to try something new. Yet I have paced 3:20 marathons twice before, so the experience was quite the same, aside from knowing it was going to be over in half the time. I have always been somewhat envious of the half pacers – they who get the same pacer swag and free entry but only do half the work. Plus one of the half marathon pacers almost always walks away with the Carrot Award for most accurate pacer.
So why does a seasoned competitive racer get pre-race jitters and a terrible night of sleep? For an easy pacing gig? What’s up with that?
I was nervous about screwing it up for sure. I have a tight left hip that needs a good 3k warm up. I had just an 0.8 km jog to the first corral. So launching onto correct pace was a big worry, complicated by the massive crowds that remained jammed along Bloor and down Bathurst. I also had half the distance to correct any major miscalculations – it was twice as critical to get on the right pace from the start.
But those nerves! Could it be I was also pacing my wife Melissa? I thought for certain this was a win-win scenario. The 1:40:00 target was her goal time – I could pace with her and get a free race too! But if I screwed this up – boy – would I get some meaningful post-race feedback. And, as I am coaching my beloved, her success is my success. I had the chance to coach her, pace her, and see her cross the line. I was looking forward to her day!
Melissa joined me near the middle of the first corral. As soon as I lifted my sign, runners started to congregate around me. But they didn’t exactly pay much attention to Melissa whom I introduced, insisting on owning the prime territory around me.
We were off! I hoped it was just a matter of time before Melissa would find my side. I was worried, but what could I do? Being an official pacer, it was a peril I had to accept. I had to keep to pace, and that I did, crossing most km markers within 1 or 2 seconds of 4:44/k pace. But where was Melissa? I never gave up she would appear at any moment.
This never ending summer has been bad for allergens and asthma and I would not see Melissa again until much, much later. Constricted airways and a screaming heart rate (over 200 bpm!) had her on the ropes, but she battled on impressively. She wanted that finishers medal and she got it!
Melissa did hear some interesting chatter while she ran behind me. The crowd was clearly divided. Some, most likely Garmin GPS watchers, were chirping I was too fast and how could they be expected to keep up? Others were aware of the contrary, that the pace was just about spot on. So how did I do? Let my splits tell the story:
Distance: (Perfect Pace Time) Actual:
5k: (23:42) 23:34
10k: (47:24) 47:22
15k: (1:11:05) 1:11:00
21.1k: (1:40:00) 1:40:00.3
Maybe good enough for the Carrot Award? Some STWM pacers hit their splits so tight, it will be too close to call!
