Pacing Helvetia 2015: My First Experience as a Pacer

by Jodi

Some of the pace team Paula pulled together

Carissa told you about her Helvetia Half Marathon experience in the last post.  Isn't she great?  I also was at that race but in a totally new capacity.  Paula Harkin, owner of Run With Paula Events, asked me to join her as a pacer for the race.

I have never paced a race before and was pretty nervous about other runners relying on me to help them hit their goal pace for a race.  After all, I just figured out how to run negative splits and manage my pace per mile in the past year. Would I be able to lead other runners - on a hilly course - to their goal time?

Me and Carissa before the start of the race.  Kind of intimidating to wear a Portland Running Company Race Team singlet.  Feels totally out of my league.

Questions and doubts plagued me.  I was assigned to the 8:30 pace group, a pace I often run with friends, but not my typical race pace.  I was worried about going too slow.  And worried about going too fast. To complicate things, the course is really hilly, especially in the middle miles.  I typically solider slowly up the hills then bomb the other side to pick up speed, but not all runners take this approach.  Were we supposed to hit a consistent 8:30 pace mile after mile or just finish with an overall average pace of 8:30?  Can you get fired from a volunteer job?

On race morning, the 8:30 (pace per mile) Pacer Group was comprised of me, Paula, Amanda and Chris.  We all tied balloons to the back of our shirts, did a little warm up, and joined excited racers in the start corral.

selfie at the start of the race

The first two miles of the course are flat and fast.  We clocked both of those at an 8:08 pace - too fast, but it gave us a cushion to run slower on the hilly miles.  It turns out we didn't really need the cushion.  Our group of runners held steady at a slightly too fast pace for most of the race.  Even on the hilly miles, they stayed at or below an 8:30 pace.  It was impressive.

I think I had more trouble trying to run in a straight line than I did holding a steady pace.  The four pacers were trying to run in a line together, but I kept slipping ahead by a step or two and knocking my balloon into Paula's face.  Or I'd fall back a few steps and get bonked by her balloon.  It took us a good eight miles to figure out how to run without attacking each other with our balloons!

In the end, we hit the finish line ahead of schedule by almost a minute.  A couple of runners in our group PR'd on the course and they were so stoked about it.  It was really satisfying to see how pleased they were and know we helped them reach their goal.

Amanda, Paula, and me

I enjoyed participating in a race without having to kill myself for a finish time.  It was fun to run with a different goal - to help others do something awesome - and simultaneously spend time with my friends doing something we all love.  Plus I got to share a burger and a beer with Carissa at the finish.  What else could I want?

I LOVE this girl!

If I don't get fired for running our group into the finish too fast, I'd love to pace another race.  Thanks Paula for asking me to join you.

Race By The Splits:
Mile One: 8:08
Mile Two: 8:08
Mile Three: 8:23
Mile Four: 8:05
Mile Five: 8:29
Mile Six: 8:24
Mile Seven: 8:12
Mile Eight: 8:20
Mile Nine: 8:27
Mile Ten: 8:22
Mile Eleven: 8:24
Mile Twelve: 8:18
Mile Thirteen: 8:23
Mile 13.2: 1:53

Finish Time: 1:50:04 - 13.23 miles - 8:19 average

Great work Helvetia runners!

What's My Number?

By Carissa

I ran the Helvetia Half Marathon earlier this month because I felt compelled to race again.  I knew my time would be a far cry from my personal best.  It wasn’t about time.  It was about accepting where I was in my fitness.  Giving myself a "number" or finishing time I might not want to see.

The last time I raced was the Bridge of the Goddess Half Marathon in September 2014.  The race felt horrible.  I knew I struggled with fatigue through my training so I felt uncertain going into race day.  Out on the course I stopped multiple times to walk because I felt dizzy.  I swore to not run another half marathon until I figured out what was going on with my health.  

Over the next several months I had doctors appointments, consulted other runners and medical professionals and waited out some bad fatigue.  In January I started taking daily iron supplements.  Over the next few months the fatigue got better.  By April I started to feel like a slower version of my former self: someone who could dream about tackling longer distances.  That’s when I started to get the itch to train.

Whidbey Island Half Marathon: Chasing Down My Goal

By Tanya

I finally ran my first half marathon in almost two years and it felt great! I signed up for the Whidbey half marathon in October 2013 with the hope that I would be able to run it in 2014. As you know, I started out my running career way too fast and furious. As a result I have been plagued with on-going injuries for which I had to take all of 2013 off to recover.

When the new year came around I committed to training differently. I started seeing a new Physical Therapist.  Per her advice I worked to change up my stride to a faster cadence and foot turnover rate. I also focused on using my upper core muscles by pulling up and tightening my "inner corset" while I ran. This type of running certainly added a new cardio challenge, but overall it lessened my pain. I also was advised that although my hamstrings may feel tight, they actually are not, so stretching them would only further my problems. Therefore I should stretch my hamstrings as little and as gently as possible.

I eased back into running slow and steady and made sure I could maintain the correct form and stride for the entire run. I also kept up with my cross-training routine of swimming, core exercises, and Zumba. This meant that I only gave myself two running days per week.

Boston Marathon 2013 Race Recap

By Carissa

If ever there was a race that was full of possibility and promise it was the 2013 Boston Marathon.  I had trained harder than ever before.  I was ready to race smart and excited about the potential of a new big PR.  I had two of the BEST ROOMMATES ever and we were having such a fun time soaking in our first Boston experience.

Holly, myself and Devon on marathon morning 

Monday morning we rose at five.  I felt good.  I was rested, excited that it was finally race day and not overwhelmed with typical race nerves.  We set about getting ready for the race and headed to the subway without a hitch.  Once we got to the Boston Commons stop I stepped into a Dunkin Donuts to grab a bagel.  (Side note about food: I started my morning with my typical coffee and granola with almond milk.  My plan was to have a bagel and sip some water with Nuun a few hours later to top my stomach off before my 10:20am race start.)  Next, we hopped in line for the bus ride that would take us to Hopkinton where the race begins.

Boston Training: Pacing and Race Prep

by Carissa

This week has been pretty awesome.  Every time I turn around someone is wishing me well for my race or telling me they will be praying for me.  The support and encouragement from friends and family has been so heartwarming.  I have been blessed with a lot of cheerleaders!

My race prep started on Tuesday.  I finally sat down to do some math.  I love numbers and applying them to running.  The first thing I wanted to do was take a look at my mile splits from my prior marathons.  I have hit “the wall” in every marathon.  In my first marathon I was on track to have a Boston qualifying time at the halfway point, but lost nine minutes in the second half.  In my second and third marathons I had positive splits by five minutes.  (A positive split is when the second half of your race is slower than your first half.  If you run a negative split, then your second half is faster than your first half.)

I know why this occurs.  I have a habit of being overambitious with my goals.  I think "If I go out strong, maybe I can hold on."  It hasn’t worked out for me.  I am ready to try something new in Boston.