This morning I did my third Roma-Ostia half marathon, for the first time as a personal pacer of a dear friend. This was her first half marathon, she didn't train much in the last 2 months, but during the last year she put enough miles in her legs that I was confident she would be able to finish it (although she was not quite sure). We started with the third wave almost at the back of 12000 runners in this way we would keep our pace under control during the early miles and still be able to pick up people until the end. This race is very well organized and the road is wide, after the first 2 miles it is just a straightway from Rome to the sea, the only "view" are the pine trees every 20 m and the sea far away at the end. But the real "view" was the stream of 10000 runners ahead of us that was really incredible. We kept for the first 5k (almost completely flat) our goal pace of 6:10/km (actual pace 6:09/km), she was still talking and in control. The second 5k was the hardest one with the only "hill" (1k long steady incline) but the time was still good (6:11/km partial time) and her mood was great knowing that from the half way to the sea was "just" slightly downhill and then flat. The weather improved along the way with clouds and fog at the start and then by the time we were halfway we had sun clear skies and a light breeze. Next 5k was our fastest one 6:05/km, we took advantage of the "downhill" and we got to the 15k mark still relaxed enough and pushing a good pace. At km16 there was a sad scene, a fellow runner was on the road in cardiac arrest (his face was blue) and doctors were right there attempting CPR, from what I found later he is in good conditions right now, but then it was a sad reminder that even during an incredible fun day things can go bad in a second. We didn't talk for the whole km, then she started complaining that things were becoming more difficult and her feet were sore. I tried my best to have her focused on each km sign visible from great distance and on the fact the we could see and smell the sea. I did my best to keep her pace up, she was slowing down a little bit (final 6k were at 6:07/km, probably 6:04/km from 15 to 18 and then 6:10/km the last three), but her mood was still great, the last km she gave her best effort and we finished in 2:09:14. She didn't think was possible to finish under 2:15, but I suspect that if she did train just a little bit more she would have easily finished under two hours. After changing our clothes on the beach, we took the train and the subway to go back to the start and then we drove home. I was so happy for her, she now wants to start train again taking advantage of the spring weather and nail by herself (she considered cheating having me along the way) a good HM time.
| 