My personal best here is 3.05 in 2009 and I had hoped to better that. But instead I agreed to volunteer as a 3.45 pacer. And I am glad I did as conditions were brutal after 30k with temps over 30 degrees.
As it turned out I had a very pleasant run and for the first time in a marathon I chatted, looked around and generally had fun.
I also saw first hand the mistakes people make running marathons, many of the same mistakes that I have made.
Especially going out too hard so they hit the wall, not being trained, ignorance of the pace, no nutrition, overweight, over dressed, over gadgeted.
For the first 21ks I had a group of over 20 in a tight group around me. We didn't overtake anybody. Then we started losing people, and soon waves of runners were coming back towards us as they slowed down and we maintained a steady pace of 5m20s.
It was sad to see the forlorn looks on runners faces as we went past them. I knew how they felt.
By the start of the expressway rise I lost everybody. I made a point of stopping and walking every drink stop until finally there was no one there. In the last 5k I picked up a few people and encouraged them to hang in there, but the runners who I overtook were mostly on a death march. I have never had the time to look at the compete exhaustion of the runners before as I am usually feeling it myself. Its scary.
It made me extra keen to train hard and avoid total a state of exhaustion in the last 10k.
At the finish I came in at 3.44.56. I waited at the finish for the members of my "group" but apart from my fellow pacer Roland there was no one.
To keep the pace I had a 1k interval pace card that I laminated and my Polar watch. We got to about 40s up on gun time at the half way point but otherwise we were spot on.
Interesting experience and one I wouldn't mind doing again one day.
It was nice to finish feeling good. Next day no DOMS at all.
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