We had a caravan of 5-6 cars of pacers driving to the race. We parked right off campus and walked to the start. While we still had a lot of time to spare, I should have jumped in a bathroom line! They lines soon became outrageous, even for 1-1.5 hours before start time! I opted to using the line of 20+ port-a-potties near the start line…not my brightest decision, but I was in and out with a lot of time to spare. In the “holding area” in the gym, I met several ladies that were going to run with me. The stories make my job as a pacer the most rewarding!

- First 1/2 marathon
- First 1/2 post baby
- First 1/2 post injury
- Never thought they would run a 1/2
- Always told they wouldn’t finish
- Told they were too old to start running
……and the list goes on!

Around 7:15 am, we headed out into the elements to stands in the corrals. After being out for a minute or two, we decided that we could have waited another 10-15 minutes before heading out…oh well. At least we had a little time to get used to the elements – light rain, cold wind, chilly temps, no sun, clouds. I could feel the caffeine coursing through my veins, and the crowd was eating up my energy:)

I was able to pick up a few more runners to start with our group and I assured everyone to resist the urge to start RUNNING out the gate and let my pacing strategy take them to the finish!

The start was great! As my first time pacing, I kept checking my watch…like a crazy person! I was a roller coaster the first couple miles…watching my Garmin like a hawk was just what I needed to keep my team at a good warm-up pace. I told everyone to stick with me for the first 3, and then they can decide to stick around or pick up the pace. I kept a pretty good crowd in the 2:40 group through mile 9…the hill “intimidated” most and while we already banked a little time on the downhill and I slowed the pace below the split, I lost most of my group once we topped the hill… I need to find a way to convince my runners to run through the hill and not stop at the top! Learning curve for this new pacer!

Once we got to mile 11/12, I started picking up some of the people that started out a little too fast and lost their energy the last couple miles. I pushed the couple of runners that stuck with me to push through to the finish and I would see them there! That was the happy tear kind of moment that I wanted to have…

- a new mother, teacher, first 1/2 and didn’t think they could finish…she finished ahead of me and I got a hug and high five after!
- a runner that started around my group, took off too early, lost her friend, the pace caught up to her and she was determined to finish with or before me:)
- a runner that started with the group, took off before the first mile, but kept us in her sights throughout the race to finish ahead of the group:) high fives and thank you all around!

Overall, I love as fried after the race…both physically and mentally! The weather was not great – if the rain held off, it would have been perfect running conditions! I haven’t ever talked so much or kept my head on a swivel throughout 13.1 miles! My shoulders will feel it for sure!