Fast Running Blog

Hey everyone running TOU...I am looking to get a pace group together if anyone is interested. Pace just under 3 hours is what I am going for. If anyone out there is planning on this same pace, please let me know! I hope everyone's training is going well; see you at the race!!!

I'm hoping to just sneak under 3 hours.  I'm not sure I have it in my right now but it is worth a shot.

I assume you've already looked at Paul Peterson's pace charts.  Sub 3:00 is probably a little ambitious for me.

I've been studying them non-stop for the past week.  If I don't go sub 3, it will be Paul's fault.

yes, i have looked at the pace charts as well...and it will be ambitious...that is why i think it is a good idea to get a pace group together. we can motivate and push each other through all the ambitiousness.

I was planning on running the 5K then backtracking along the course until I hit Andy.  The plan is to try and give him the kick in the butt to finish strong.  If others are near him as well, even better.  I am not sure at what point int he course I will be.  I haven't done the math yet.  I would guess that I would there to help for the final 10K or so.

Cody, if I wear heelys you could pull me in after I coast down the canyon. 

Allie- I don't think I'll join the pace group for one main reason- I don't want to get you DQ'ed.  You should be in contention to win/place in the marathon.  If you have a bandit runner (i.e. me) pace you for the second half of the race and beat another woman by 1 minute or so, she could complain that you were unfairly aided which could result in you being DQ'ed and not get your prize money.  I don't think anyone would complain if a "middle-of-the-pack runner" gets some help, but helping an elite might be controversial. 

That being said, I hope you can hook up with some of these guys and they can help you to your sub-3:00.  I'll be cheering for you guys somewhere along the course or at the finish.

Geez look what I started!   I don't think she was asking for any unethical help.  Best of luck allie! 

No, Allie wasn't the instigator here.  I had told her a few months ago that I may be able to meet her halfway and push her through the 2nd half to a sub-3:00, so I just wanted to let her know why I wouldn't be doing that now.  Again, the difference between Cody pulling Andy in (i.e. not a money position) vs. me pulling Allie in (possible winner).

Not trying to make a big deal of this, just explaining why I won't be joining them.

Should I be offended by this?

If TOU were a few more weeks away from St. George, I would be willing to run the whole TOU pacing someone (with me as an official runner)- nothing wrong there.  But pacing for the second half as a bandit runner would be my only possibility this year, being 2 weeks before St. George.

  :D  No sir!  You should be happy that someone can help you through the last miles!  I know it helped me last year with Paul and Logan.  You should rub it in Allie's face- nany nany boo boo!  You get a pacer and she doesn't (unless, of course, you and her are running together, in which case she could also draft off your pacer). 

Thanks for letting me know, Jonathan. I wasn't thinking about getting an "aider" for the race, just a "pacer"...but I can see how some may feel this is controversial...hopefully I can meet up with some bloggers who are actually running the race and we can push each other through. But thanks again and good luck at SG!!!

Perhaps Jon can pull a Harding/Gillooly for Allie since he's already a bandit.