The St Jude Pacer 2018

The St Jude Pacer

“A pacer tries to keep a pace to help others reach their goal.  They must be CONSISTENT.”

I have been blessed with great pacers in both full and half marathons.   They have helped me achieve times beyond my personal capabilities.   Just a year ago, I ran the 2017 St Jude Marathon with pacers.  The day before the race, I introduced myself to two pacers (Anthony Cendana and Paxton Bennett) who’d guide me through the course.  What made it daunting was the speed in which I was going to keep up with these runners.  However, with proper training, I knew I physically prepared, but mentally didn’t believe.  Once the race started, I shut-off all thought.  I had my music playing in the background and went into a zone I never went before.  I let my pacers do all the work.  All I had to do was follow them.  They blocked the wind, kept time, reminded everyone to drink or take fuel.  At the end, I found myself with the two pacers at the finish with a PR within the Pace Goal time.  I gained so much respect for them after that experience.

In the Spring, I joined the Germantown Thoroughbreds for long training runs.  I found out that one of the leaders (Mr. Charles Hurst) managed the St. Jude Pace Team with fellow coordinator David Tuttle.  I told Charles about my St Jude experience.  I asked if there was an opportunity for me to pace.  With my marathon time, I was good enough to run with the 4:00 group.  Typicaly they like placing Pacers in groups 20-30 better than the assigned group.  I was also racing the New York City Marathon (NYCM) in November, I’d already have good training to go the pace required. 

Coming of a decent NYCM, I recharged and took to the Memphis streets.  My good friend (Scott) and I prepared from Downtown, to the Riverside, and Overton Park.  On my own, I’d run my lunches to get that feel of 9:09 (the required pace) on both the track and roads near work. 

Being part of the pace group there were time requirements.  The daunting one was getting within 90 second window of the finish.  In my case 4-hours, which meant I must finish between 3h59m00s and 4h00m30s.  In support of the runners, we couldn’t go too fast for the runners nor to slow that they didn’t achieve their goals.  I took it very seriously and it would be put to the test.

RACE DAY “Nothing goes as Planned”

Storms, Lightning and Thunder awaited me at the AutoZone Park pacers suite.  The rain was coming down very hard with flashes and booms awakening the stadium.  St Jude organizers used caution and delayed the run.  Instead of an 8:00AM start, the Half and Full Marathon would start at 9:00AM.  As necessary as the delay was, it would also take some runners out of rhythm.

I got to meet my fellow 4:00hr pacing partner (Paul) the morning of the race.  A veteran of over 20 pacing activities, he drove in from Oklahoma City to participate.  In fact, other pacers from various locations participated some as far as Kentucky, Iowa, and California helped to support St Jude runners.  All of them with distinguished running experiences. 

Paul and I took to the start line with the other pacers 30 minutes prior to the run.  The rain had subsided but something felt strange.  Heat and humidity started sneaking its way through the clouds.  We were located in Coral F with many hopeful runners stirring near us. 

I had customized the rod for my pacer flag with paint, a roped handle, an inscription (Psalms 26:2), and a list of the exact times for each mile and 5K increment we’d need to hit.  The goal was to stay within 5-10 seconds of each mark.  Example would be hitting the first mile at 9m09sec or the first 5K in 28m24sec.  Anything within 5-10sec of that time would be good, otherwise we’d need to speed up or slow down to meet the next mile on time.  A pacer tries to be like a Japanese subway system to be always on time, but the reality is it’s more like a Greyhound Bus in traffic.  There will be some obstacles slowing you down. 

The first part of the marathon was energetic.  Runners wanting to go fast.  I just wanted to get into rhythm.  However, some misplaced runners were already gotten tired and started walking or stopped in the first miles causing pile-ups on the road.  Paul and I were having to navigate and slow up or rush through.  The energy and excitement reached its pinnacle at the St Jude Campus seeing all the children and the real reason we were running.  We were far ahead of mile times that we need to slow down by quite a bit on the way back on Riverside Drive.  We would eventually get back on pace as the half-marathoners split off on Washington Ave. 

There were six full-marathoners left in my pace group.  Even with the humidity warming up, everyone still seemed quite strong.   At the 13.1 mark, my watch read 2h00m17s, only 1-sec off mile pace.  I felt pretty good about their chances.  My optimism would crack in heat.

WEATHERING DOWN

The heat took its toll on two members of my group who were stonewalled at Stonewall Street.  Then another two dropped off at Overton Park.  I was left with two hopeful runners.  But something very strange had happened.  After mile 17, my time had read that I was only 30 seconds ahead of pace.  However, at mile 18, I somehow found that we were now behind of the mile mark by 70 seconds.  I didn’t feel my rhythm change but somehow we were now behind.  In a panic to keep time, I bumped the pace.  As mile 19 passed, we were now 50 seconds ahead of the mile mark.  I had to slow us down. 

My fellow pacer Paul was in trouble; the humidity was getting to him.  Just two weeks prior to this race he paced another marathon.  The toll of that marathon and the heat caused him to slow and lose the pace.  I would have to go it alone with these two runners.

With only 7 miles left, I had Danielle from Raleigh, NC and Jared from Cordova.  With the faux pas on mile 18 (which turned out to be miss located), I had to get their spirits up with pep-talks and mental games.  I told them to think of “clickers”.  Each time a mile came, “Click It” off as complete as one step closer to the finish.  I was trying anything to keep them positive and on my tail. 

Unfortunately, at the 20-mile water-stop, Jared was lost.  I turned around and he was nowhere to be found.  Danielle was the only one left.  We traveled on to North Parkway.  She picked up her pace, so I let her run ahead.  It was a good feeling knowing she felt strong.  But, that positive feeling wore away when I noticed her running left to right on the road.  As I kept my own pace, I caught up to her and gave her more words of advice.  “Stay on the dashed road lines, stay straight and don’t let this marathon get any longer by swaying.”  She took my advice, but, she finally succumb to the humidity by mile 22.

HOMESTRETCH

I was on time, on pace, and alone.  A pacer with no one to pace. 

The turn onto Danny Thomas Street confirmed my fears that it was a bad day for everyone.  Like a scene from the “Walking Dead”, runners were now turned into walkers fighting fatigue, humidity and an oncoming wind hitting their faces.  Yet, I was still running past them, trying desperately to give hope or words of encouragement.   One hopeful walker tried to follow me, “C’mon Man!  Stay on my hip and I’ll bring you home.”  I’d try to block the wind for him as he tried keeping behind me, but he couldn’t keep my pace. 

My wife, was above the Monroe St overpass, all I could do was shrug.  I reached mile 26 to cheers of “Good Job Pacer”.  But in my mind, I didn’t feel that way.  I crossed the finish line at 3h59m04s, less than a minute of my required time.  My body, system, and legs were all in good working order.  I felt spry and lively.  However, inside I was dejected.  I finished alone.  I felt like I had not helped anyone.  

I got back to the pacer’s suite and found fellow pacer Paxton.  He had helped me reach my goal the previous year.  He offered up sound words of advice.  “Pacing for others is not about you carrying them.  The runner has to do their own work in training, preparation and execution.  You are there as a guide, support and example.  In the end, their success is not your success.”

GIVING BACK

This race means so much to runners in this city and region.  More importantly, it means the world to the children on at that St Jude Campus.  Pacers and runners have to endure only a morning of running.  The children and medical staff at St Jude endure much more for a longer time period.

I plan to comeback to St Jude as a pacer hopefully in fair running weather.  I know as I run/train downtown and see those St Jude buildings, I’ll put into context their struggle compared to mine.   Hopefully I can fight and endure as gracefully as them.