| Author |
Topic: Ottawa Marathon RR: The Perfect Life of a Pace Bunny |
spankee
Cool Runner |
 posted May-28-2007 06:54 AM
  
Yesterday was a perfect day in Ottawa for the marathon. Clearly Tall and Topdown felt that way as well with two great PB's. Very impressive. As for me, I had predetermined my finishing time, volunteering for the second year to be the 4:30 pace bunny after having run Boston earlier in the year. One thing about being a pace bunny is when you strap on the ears you become an instant expert. e.g. directions to the washroom, suggested marathon pace paced on earlier run performances (sorry I normally download my McMillian pace calculator into my brain before the race but I forgot this morning) The day was perfect weather wise: cool, overcast, light rain towards the end. The NCM course had been changed this year and although I had tried several times to find the new course using the website map, I had only a basic idea. Memo to organizers: the merge of the marathoners with half marathoners at around 22 k of the marathon is problematic at 4:30: road was very narrow, paces of everyone was slightly different and there was a wierd narrow lane water station just before the merge. Perhaps a slight change in start times will fix most of the problem. I attracted a great group of runners around me. They were just amazing to me. Several running a marathon for the first time. One guy who had run with me last year for most of the race recognized me ( I guess it was the ears and the sign!) 4:30 is a popular time. We were using a 10:1 run walk strategy (not something I normally do when I am running) but something most of my group was familiar with, so I assigned one guy in the group the job of calling the walk breaks which he did brilliantly and with a great loud voice which sounded like a commandment from God. Ocassionally we would shorten or lengthen the run before the walk break in order to run down a hill or to take the walk break going up one, but we were pretty consistent. I loved the new Ottawa marathon course: a bigger loop in Quebec and a bigger loop in Rockcliffe. One of the treats for the runners was in Rockcliffe where Jean Chretien, former Canadian Prime Minister, was out on his lawn shaking hands with runners and cheering them on. I didn't see any security around him...just him. I actually looped back to shake his hand. Jean created such a buzz in my group. Amazing. This is also where my pace bunny problems started. Memo to other bunnies: replace your batteries in your GPS before starting out. Mine looked fine in the morning before I left, but about 15 k into the race, my GPS watch shut down. Pace Bunny without a watch--not a good thing. It was a little embarassing. I quickly found a guy in our group with a GPS watch, and continued to use another guy to monitor the 10:1, and would verify our pace every couple of kilometers. It all went smoothly and our group feed off each other. We were a finely honed group. People would carry the pace sign--we called it our IV pole as it provided energy to whoever carried it, and we brought people along as they started to struggle. At one point, I asked whether I was needed because I had one guy doing the walk breaks, another pacing and another carrying the sign: I had nothing left to do. I was expected huge attrition and there was some but not a lot. We cruised through the half at 2:17--a little slow by two minutes, but then held pace, and finished in 4:29:29 ( 31 seconds under the determined pace) Most of my orginal group were within 10 minutes of the mark, a nice group withme and several were ahead--which meant that they had great negative splits in their first marathon. Very impressive. I was thrilled by everyone`s success. It was a perfect day--even the watch problem- presented a nice challenge which was overcome. Excellent. And bravo to my 4:30 pace team...I would do it again with you anytime. ------------------
The longest journey starts with a single step [This message has been edited by spankee (edited May-28-2007).] [This message has been edited by spankee (edited May-28-2007).]
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hally
Moderator of Boomers and Beyond |
posted May-28-2007 07:02 AM
Spankee it is so neat that folks do this........I can only dream of being able to run a marathon let alone doing one to help out others. And you did a fantastic job despite several obstacles. Kudos and I still owe you a drink next Boston.Barb
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 08:25 AM
What makes this account so interesting is the way you engaged your group and made it a team accomplishment instead of you doing the entire job. That kind of group dynamic has a positive effect on performance, helping to unite everyone as a team. I admire you for this contribution as well. Great report. Spareribs
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WillRunForBeer
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 08:40 AM
I truly admire those who are willing to give their time and energy to pacing others. Thanks for doing this, and congratulations on finishing right on the mark.
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breger1
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 08:44 AM
I loved this RR. Especially the part about the guy who shouted out like a Commandment from God. I could just imagine him yelling "Okay everyone. Time to RUN!"Bill ------------------
Bill's Profile
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huskydon
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 09:06 AM
Spankee,I thoroughly enjoyed reading your RR and want to join others in thanking you for your wonderful service. You finished very nicely and I think that anyone who ran with your group learned a lot about proper pacing. Huskydon
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cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 09:22 AM
I always enjoy the additional insights from the pacers. Too bad tho that you didn't think to carry along your laptop so that you could access the McMillan pace calculator online for those that forgot to do the research before they showed up.... Seriously, if i ever get fast enough for a 4:30, I sure would like to be part of your team. Sounds like a great time! cj
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Tramps
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 09:24 AM
Good for you! It's great that you are able and willing to do this for others. Nice job.
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MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 10:31 AM
I agree it's interesting to hear the pacer's account of a race. I admire your former PM for being out shaking hands. That's a nice touch. I can just imagine the panic when your watch quit. Very smooth recovery and excellent job of getting your brood in under the wire.Mark
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 10:37 AM
.......very cool/////........you handled everything that was thrown at you exceptionally well...............now, you need to publish a PaceBunny Manual,,,,,,,,,,nice job,,,,,,
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piejones
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 10:49 AM
Great job spankee.
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La Tortuga
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 11:43 AM
spankee - I never even knew there was such a thing as a pace bunny - how cool is that? Did you realy wear ears?
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arf 1
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 11:50 AM
Hey Spankee...you are wonderful to do this for these runners! Great job and I'm know they appreciate you very much!arf
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 11:52 AM
Yes, we got to wear a lovely black hat with pink rabbit ears---very nice, and a bright orange with pace rabbit written in blue lettering (where were the fashion police!!) and carry a sign with our pace times-- I put an Ottawa Senators flag on mine as added touch. There is something very satisfying about doing this for me. I think I get more out of it than the runners who follow me. I have already signed up to be the 4:30 Pace Bunny at the Toronto Scotia. Will race another sans pace bunny later in the fall for my own goals. Will be interesting to see which I enjoy more. [This message has been edited by spankee (edited May-28-2007).]
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perchcreek
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 01:44 PM
Really cool spankee! Thanks for the insight into the life of a pace bunny! What a fine team effort. Congratulations on hitting your mark and bringing them in slightly under goal! Awesome job!
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tallrunner
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 03:47 PM
SpankeeCongratulations on doing a great job. I need to do this soon, it's so cool. I was dissapointed I did not meet you again..That's 3 marathons I have run, and you have been at each. Are you my good luck charm or maybe yesterday you were the bad karma I got. Hmm Great job
Tall
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 04:52 PM
Definitely I'm your charm although when you run under 3 hours and I run 4:30 I am not sure we are in the same race.Funny we have never met. Although I would have been easy to find, what with the pink bunny ears...while you would been hard to find, what with all the skyscrapers in downtown Ottawa (although granted not many running under 3 hrs) You'd make a great bunny. Perhaps a future 3:15 bunny for me?
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 10:14 PM
Are you running 4:30 in Toronto Scotia or is that yet to be determined? I ran with the 4:00 pace bunny in Ottawa last year (a very attractive young lady! ...she was wearing a tutu?), but the pace was very inconsistent ...not that it made any difference as I faded badly from 25k due to heat and humidity.
Keep up the good work ...pace bunnies are a great idea! and very helpful to the novice marathoner.
PJ
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted May-28-2007 10:29 PM
Yes, have signed up to be the 4:30 Pace Bunny at Toronto Scotia\Waterfront Marathon. Athough it sounds like I should be trying to find last year's 4 hr pace bunny in Ottawa. Not sure I look that good in a tutu.
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runningindc
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 07:57 AM
Great RR Spankee. Thanks for being the pace bunny and it sounds as if you all had a great time at it. Go bunnies, go!------------------
Running in wellness Liz Lizs Profile
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Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 08:10 AM
Thanks for the insight into pacing Spankee and what a rewarding experience too. Well done for sacrificing your training and the day to help others achieve. A very selfless act, well done!
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SueT48
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 08:42 AM
Pace Bunnies are truly gods! You definitely rock, and those first-timers who ran with you were lucky to have you as a pacer. Thanks for sharing. ------------------
Sue
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 11:04 AM
Spankee, it sounds like you had a truly wonderful time. I loved reading your report and of how you made the goal of achieving 4:30 a team effort. Once in which you succeeded by overcoming a few obstacles I might add. Great job and great race report. Pacing a marathon is definitely something I have thought about doing it sounds like such a rewarding experience. Those in your group were lucky to have someone of your caliber pace them to victory!------------------
My User Profile "Keep on Running"
Bob
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hermosaboy
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 11:16 AM
Greta job Spankee. 31 seconds ahead at the end when you were a bit slow at the half? Sounds like EXCELLENT pacing to me!!!
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted May-29-2007 12:01 PM
It always seemed to me that being a pacer is a lot more difficult than it looks, and it looks difficult to begin with. Nice to hear a report from one who actually does it!I've actually had limited success at staying with a pace group since I don't seem to be able to run a steady pace like that, especially for long distances. ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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