Monday, June 3, 2013

Marathon Pacing Groups

Long before there was ever such a thing as "pacing groups" in marathons and now half marathons experienced runners often made arrangements with one of their running friends who was about to experience their first marathon to "run them in" the final few miles or so.  I observed this process long before my first marathon and thought how terrible!  Well intended but terrible!

Running a marathon is all about the individual. It is a test of one's physical and mental endurance and ability to over come.  There are as many different reasons and challenges to run a marathon as there are runners who participate. When I ran my first marathon I wanted to run the entire 26.2 miles by myself.  I appreciated support throughout my training and leading up to the actual event but once the starters gun went off, I was on my own to finish. For if I had a friend "run me in" the final miles it would have meant that I really did not do it all on my one and after all, you only run your first marathon once! Ever! 

In recent years nearly all marathons and now most half marathons have this "thing" called "Pacer" or "Pacing Group".  A well trained and experienced runner who can run a marathon with reasonably predictable results, carries a little sign listing the targeted finish time on a smaller stick. This dedicated and well intention runner then carries this sign several feet above their heads while running the entire race. The result is a GLOB of runners swarming at each side and slightly behind the Pacer.

While I will never be a part of a Pacing Group, I do understand their popularity, particularly among novice runners.  Runners today depend more and more upon other runners for support especially during training. So it makes sense that runners are intimidated by the thought of actually running such a grueling event all on their very own.  If a runner chooses to race with a pacing group, fine, that is their personal decision that I totally respect. Unfortunately runners who always run with a pacer will never truly  be able to claim a personal achievement and satisfaction of running a marathon by themselves. They do not know what they are missing.

I was reminded of another reason not to favor Pacing Groups yesterday during my run of  the Dexter to Ann Arbor Half Marathon. I knew at the start of the race that my string of 7 consecutive sub 1:40 half marathons was in serious jeopardy thanks to a nagging injury and irregular training most of this past winter and spring. Nonetheless, I was healthy to race and was going to give it my best try.  To do this I planned to run a steady 7:40 to 7:45 pace for the first 5-6 miles. The race started and I felt I was running easy but the pace fro the first few miles was actually much faster than planned. So I decided t run relaxed, keep it easy, do not push the pace, and hope for the best. For me, I knew this required a consistent and focused mental approach too.

Corresponding to my slightly slower paced was an up and coming thunder of rubber soles running shoes rapidly gaining on me from behind.  I know there can be a group of runners from time to time and especially during the early miles. Then before I knew it I was absorbed by this SWARM of runners centered around a runner with one of those stinking pace signs!  This was the 1:40 pace group. This was the group that I wanted to beat and that I wanted NO part of being a part of but it looked like I had no choice except to speed my pace a bit and keep ahead. So I did just that. I not only began to run faster than what I had planned, I also begin to loose focus on my run as my mind focused on angry thoughts towards the idea of pacing groups.

Before too long the group caught me again. Not unexpected since I was now "paying" for my recent little surge. But this time I was boxed-in. To be boxed-in means that as a runner you are totally surrounded and cannot run past or around another runner.  So here I was, a bit "ticked" and not using my energy reserves wisely.  So I decided to let this group go past with the idea that I would pass them later.  

Well passing them later never happened as I spent a mile or more battling this GLOB of runners along the narrow two lane road. It was not the fault of this pacing group that caused me not to run another sub 1:40, it was solely my own insufficient training that lead me to finish in1:46. But it was this group that caused me to be disturbed by the continuing and growing trend of pacing groups swelling to take over control of our otherwise great sport.

I urge my fellow runners who have come to depend upon these groups to grow-up and run your race by yourself and reap the corresponding rewards.

I welcome the views and experiences of my running friends and readers.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Run Happy :)

Lee