Out of the blue

Just before midnight marathon last Friday I got text from organisers of Waterford marathon that I could pace in the event. Even that it was pacing for 4:30 I was glad that I was asked. I was happy. Next opportunity for me to help other runners and same time work on my slow pace. Everything just to prepare myself for 12 hours run and Connemara. Pace was for me but I was there for others actually. I wasn’t really important. Had a task to do – help runners to achieve their time…

So, there we were in Waterford. Before I was accepted as a pacer I got a free number from a friend. If not as pacer I would be running as ‘Robert’. Now had spare number to give away. Message on Facebook and in 3 minutes there was volunteer for it. Evening before I got my racing pack and must say that I was impressed by it. Two technical shirts and some other stuff. Not bad. All I was missing was my pacing gear, which I should pick up just before the race. Very fancy pink singlet with time and my name on it. Got as well balloon with time written on it but bursted before I was able to touch it. So, replacement  gear needed. I was little bit scared with the pace and was trying not to think about it before the run. On the starting line pacers took obligatory photo. Of course we had to jump. I met my fellow 4:30 pacer – David Sheridan. Knew straight away that our group will be the best one and I wasn’t mistaken. Runners were very determined to acheive their goal…

Start. First couple of twist and turns in the town center trying to work out the pace. Trying to get my legs working on the slower candance. Wasn’t easy on the beginning but could managed that… Problem was the head. Questions like: ‘Would I be able to run with such a pace for whole distance?’, ‘Would I last for 4.5 hours?’, ‘Am I running to fast now?’ were bumping in my head. 4.5 hours marathon with a steady pace is a run with your head. I wouldn’t want to disappoint ‘our’ runners. Must say that talking during race was really helping my mentally. Physically no problem at all, but checking the watch constantly was head wrecking… At the beginning all distances, 10 K, half marathoners and marathoners were running together. Good crowd. Plenty chances to talk runners. Met lady from US. She was running 10 K as a preparation for marathon in the Fall. She was supprised that there was not a big cheer for us. I think she was expecting great crowd of supporters. Cause I will run in biggest marathon in the World in New York I will be able to compare the supporters expirience. When shortest distance has splitted our group was already well established. Me and David knew that we have stronger runners in our group and people who will need little bit encouragement to get to finish line in time. Running such a pace allowed us to talk to runners to enjoy beutifull views and weather we had. For me it was strange expirience to see fimiliar faces running in front of me. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy that I was helping others but still kinda… different. Some of our ‘groupies’ went ahead, some stayed behind for a bit but we knew that we are still running together. With about 8, maybe 9 miles to go our group become one again. All of us had same goal – 4:30. We could see that most of runners were really tired but still were going. And I think for the first time in my life I saw the famous ‘WALL’. It wasn’t my wall it was John’s, runner who was running his first marathon. I think it hit him hard. From that moment me and David had to get John to think about something else, everything just not marathon. He was struglling but whole group was trying to help him. Haven’t heard so many words of encuragement in my life. There was one runner, girl from South Africa living in Ireland. Angela helped us by telling her story, how she got to Ireland, why she stayed and so on. It has worked, took mind of the struggle for John. Last part of the run, park. Some ups and downs, something which had drained the last remaning drop of energy from some of the runners. There was not just words needed, we had to use ‘THE FORCE’ to push them. Last 300 meters on the WTI track. I think runners got their wings back. They were really racing… all to get to finishing line in time. Even John… he did good. Before the track I have stopper. Saw one more runner who was trying to catch us. Have checked the watch, we still had time. Still minute to spare. Clapping, shouting… everything just to help with next step… and then another one. Last 150 meters, last 50, couple of steps and he has finished that run. He was happy, I was happy. Just didn’t know his name.

After run I felt proud. Our group did it. We got everybody on time… They said thanks, that was really nice. Hope to see them again on their marathon journey…

Pictures…