This year we knew ahead of time – despite the cooler weather in the days leading up to the Sunday morning race, that we’d be having a warm day. Temps were set to be in the mid 70s for the 6 am start and rise to 82 degrees by the time my four hour pace group would be finishing. Nothing too surprising for the Palm Beaches Marathon, it has a history of late summer temps. This was the race’s 20th year and 18th running.
Expo Friday & Saturday
The expo was easy, I set the MarathonPacing.com booth next to the Palm Beach Roadrunners booth so I could attend to both on Friday. Saturday had other out of town pacers helping out in the pacer booth – that was easy. I was there early to see the 5k & 10k races. The pacer booth doesn’t get much attention on Friday or early Saturday. Later after noon time is when that becomes more popular.
Pacer Dinner – Stresa
The pacer dinner went very well – Stresa is a good spot for delicious food – I would like more of the runners to attend the meeting, but oh well, their loss!
Race Day
The morning of the race means plenty of prep for me. We set up the PBRR tents in a best spot on the course. This allows the pace team and our runners to have a safe & reliable place to hold their keys, phones, etc free of the gear check drop off.
We started on time this year, I had a good group of half & full marathon runners with me. I gave a pre-race talk about lacing up their shoes properly, how we would pass through the water stops, even pacing throughout, etc.
We ran up to the Manatee Lagoon as a sizable group. Mile 1 was covered in just about 9 minutes, a surprise considering some of the jostling we did to avoid slower runners and Galloway folks. I pointed out spots of interest and knew just about when the half marathon leaders were heading back at us. The flashing lights of the lead motorcycle were the clue. I saw Brandon Smith & Daniel Yinh at the front which is exciting – two locals in the lead. (For now).
Course tour guide
Our run now headed south as the sun rose and we had light. The roads north of the city have the “speed control” bumps. I reminded our group to stay aware of their feet and I called out the course anomalies in advance.
The route back to the Start/Finish area saw some thinning in my group. Two friends, Maureen and Sebastian were no longer with me. I encouraged all to get drinks at every aid station since today was going to warm up quickly.
The crossing through the main event area in Mile 8 is fun, we get music, an announcer, fans, family and friends. I had a few marathoners and halfers in a loosely organized group. We were on pace or within 3-4 seconds of perfect through this section.
We ran south under the Okeechobee bridge and on the sun-exposed section of Flagler Drive. Winds were over 10 mph in our face which made holding the sign tricky. My group stayed together, a few halfers fell off, but for the full marathoners, my main tribe was set. Valentina from Davie, Chad (who’s son was in the marathon as a first timer), and Alan. We were on pace for the halfers, ducking off Flagler Drive and into the shady and shielded neighborhood by South Olive Ave. A trip down to the turnaround had us greet the other pacers heading adjacent to us and seeing more familiar people. The runners were impressed with how many people cheered for us and knew me. I told them they’d likely get a similar response on their “home course.”
We ran nroth, now with the wind sand sun at our backs. The half folks were told & encouraged to speed up if they had additlional energy. A few did! We visited the Israel water stop then the Couture Club water stop, putting us on time and less than a mile away from the half marathon finish.
Helping Nikki
Coming around the Okeechobee Blvd curve, I saw a gal run then slow to a walk in front of us. She wasn’t a part of my group earlier. I tapped her shoulder & told her to run with us, stating it’s easier to be in a group than it is to run solo. She picked up her pace and ran next to me. I handed her the pacer sign & asked her for her name…
“I’m Nikki, I am tired though.”
“Everyone, please follow Pacer Nikki as she leads all of the half marathoners to your finish” I exclaimed! With a renewed purpose, Nikki ran right next to me, at the same slightly over 9 minute pace. I encouraged her when she asked where the finish line was. I pointed & showed her the white top of the Meyer Amphitheater – “That’s it, right there, it’s where you started!” Nikki ran all the way, handing me the sign back before the marathoners split to run around the back of the stage area in prep for Lap #2.
Now it’s the familiar, “Who’s in the game with me for the full?”
My steadies – Valentina, Chad, Alan and Karine rolled with me on a repeat of what we ran two hours ago. Now the sun is up, heat is on and wind is significantly stronger. We wound up Flagler Drive and through the Old Northwood neighborhood on pace, with me providing constant reminders to drink, eat your fuel and pour a small cup of water on your head if that feels good. I do much less talking, I’m working too. I track my heart rate, it’s been good so far. I saw a few odd spikes in this metric, but it snapped back to high 140s low 150s after a few minutes. For a 9 minute pace I should be in control. I ate salt pills but not enough of them like I was racing. I had 3 Maurten gels, which was ok. I didn’t feel low on energy.
They stayed on pace with me south again, now exposed to the wind and sun again. We passed the 20.7 mile marker at the event area again. Seeing the ROTC Marine kids as an aid station was cool, and a welcome cold drink.
We went under the Okee bridge again, this time relay friend Jackie came alongside us and passed our 9 min pace. It was very windy now, my estimate would be 18-20 mph in the face breezes. We came down Flagler drive as a group of 5. I was glad to get off that long straightaway and into the shade and wind blocked South Olive neighborhood. Now we encountered runners puckering at Miles 22 & 23. Even as we were in the shade, the weather was exacting a toll on the athletes. Valentina faded back, and Karina fell off, too. The three of us worked together to keep going on pace, we were accurate at 23 and 24 miles.
The long straighaway back north saw Chad drop off then rally to catch Alan and I. Alan sped up to leave us with two miles left to run. Chad and I kept going, I pointed out the First Baptist White Steeple ahead. I told him when we get there we have less than 3/4 of a mile to go.
At the Okeechobee Rd intersection, Chad sped up to run it in. I stayed at pace and passed through the relay station at mile 25.7. It’s nice to see friends and get vheers that late in the race. Approaching the Mile 26 sign, I felt the rumbling of stomach discomfort. I guess the Gatorade occasionally alternated with water at the aid stations was catching up with me. I was running solo with Chad now 80-100m ahead. I threw up two mouthfuls of vomit, paused briefly and kept going. Now I was ready to finish. I had been on great pace timing all morning, time to finish this strong.
I finished alone, with Chad and Alan waiting for me at the finish line. Alan’s late surge earned him a 3:54, Chad finished in 3:58 and Valentina in 4:09. Karine came in even before her at 4:03. I took pics with Chad & Alan as the celebrated their first-ever sub 4 hour marathons.
Upon finishing, I went to the PBRR tent. Lying on the grass, I had some calf cramping (Not enough salt pills) but felt good, finishing with a 3:59:39. I recived a text from Nikki, who knew a mutual friend, Mai Vi Segedin. Together they put together that I was the pacer that helped her finish her first half marathon… here’s her text message to me:
drun4fun 