3:25 pacer with my friend Amber. This was absolutely the most rewarding marathon I've ever ran. Pacing a full marathon takes on a whole new purpose as many runners are trying to BQ. 3:25 was a popular pace as it is the BQ time for men 45+. We had a really big group and I have absolutely no regrets. It was an awesome experience and one that I am glad I was able to share with Amber and many, many, runners along the way. We had runners with us from Nashville, Tahoe, Austin, St. Louis, Colorado, and a few from UT.:)
To be completely honest I think this is one of the best races I've ever paced. Pacing a full is not easy but I became emotionally attached to my runners, worked really well with my bff and pace partner Amber, stuck to my pacing plan, and just did a really good job. I wont go off on a soap box right now but I am pretty dang passionate about pacing. It is not something to be taken lightly and when I commit to doing it I commit to doing a good job.
Canyon miles 1-16: Absolutely gorgeous! We saw a Moose at mile 4 and I was wishing I had a camera to prove it to my nephew. I liked that the first mile started uphill and by mile 2-3 I was locked into pace. These miles were really smooth and our splits were between 7:15-7:45. I worked to get to know the group and make sure I had everyones names. It was cool running with the old(er) guys because most of them were very experienced runners and 2 of them were running their 99th marathon!
Out and back miles 16-23: I knew these miles were going to be tough not only for the runners but for me as well. I'm typically a 2 hour long run kind of gal so wrapping my head around an extra 85 minutes took me some self talk. I had a few moments of doubt between miles 16-19.5 at the out and back turn around point. My feet were hurting and I was questioning my ability to pace a full. Luckily this race was not about me and those thoughts were quickly erased with worrying about losing our runners. This section was hard after flying downhill but there were also things about it I liked. I loved the view of the salt lake valley, cheering the fast runners on, and seeing so many running friends with the out and back. As a pacer this is also where runners start dropping like flies and it is so hard to keep doing your job instead of staying with them.
23-26.2: These miles were great and this is where the real work starts as a pacer. I felt great and was able to 110% focus on my runners. We picked people up and had a few stay with us the entire race. I loved the downhill finish and Amber and I were able to work together to help as many runners as possible. We gapped a bit and she stayed forward and I held back as I picked people up. Finished in 3:24:32 to ensure we got those that needed a BQ well under 3:25.
It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again. A lot of people have asked me what I think about the course and I honestly think it was great. Obviously with any course that starts downhill it is difficult to transition but as long as you are aware and prepared I don't think it was too bad and the downhill finish was awesome. I don't think I would ever actually race it....steep downhill racing is really hard on my IT bands but I really enjoyed pacing it. :)
I know I'm beating a dead horse with this one but my feet were not happy...even in the hokas. :( I was in pain by mile 16 and walking through the aid stations was enough to keep it at bay. Definitely something I need to address again.
Ending on a positive note it was awesome to cheer, hug, and celebrate with those that got there BQ's or PR's. Pacing is fun and I really enjoy it.
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