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Knoxville Marathon Pacer Report

1K views 18 replies 19 participants last post by  dromedary 
#1 ·
Background: I've wanted to be a pacer for quite a while, so I was pleased to find out that the Knoxville Marathon wanted me to be one! They offered me any time slot I wanted, and I took 5:00. While I've heard various reports of pacers getting all kinds of stuff like free hotels or even cash, I just wanted to give something back to the sport and get my entry fee waived.<br><br>
The Trip: I had a free flight coming from Southwest Airlines, but I had to do some driving on both ends to make it work. I flew from Tulsa to Nashville, by way of Kansas City. When I got to Kansas City Friday night, I was looking at a scheduled 4-hour layover, but with delays it was going to be 6 hours and put me into Nashville at 1-something a.m. I politely asked a ticket agent if there was anything she could do to reroute me so I wouldn't have to endure this. She courteously and efficiently took care of it, even though her supervisor balked at first because it was a free ticket. I flew to Chicago and then down to Nashville, arriving just before 11:00, a few minutes earlier than I was originally scheduled. I got my rental car, and just in time. The clerk said I wouldn't have been able to get it at 1:00. I made a short drive over to Lebanon, Tennessee for a free night's stay at the Hampton Inn. I got into Knoxville in the afternoon, discovering that it's such a long state from west to east that they have two time zones, so I lost an hour.<br><br>
The Marathon: I met the pace group leader, Nicole, at the expo and worked the booth with another pacer for a while. She gave me a bag with all my stuff-the regular goody bag but also a cool pacer tech shirt, and she gave me the instructions for the morning. I had a wonderful dinner with the Master's Club, and afterwards, Jjjessee invited me out to his place any time for some home brew from the still out back.<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Rosecoloredglasses overheard this talk of drinking and invited me to Mass. I was staying at the host hotel, so I "slept in" until 5:45 so I could meet up across the street at the Convention Center at 6:15. I made a quick bowl of oatmeal in my room, and went over and got my pacer sign on a flimsy wooden stick. I turned on my Garmin 205, turned off Auto-Lap, and it said, "Are you indoors?" I ignored it. I met a guy who was doing his first marathon and wanted to finish with me. We chatted and went outside to the start in a while. It was IRC-raining the day before and after but not during the marathon.<br><br>
The gun went off, and I pushed the timer on my Garmin. We started moving slowly, so I looked to find out what pace we were at. Ooops. No data, just the watch. I knew instantly what was wrong but not what to do about it. I should have turned it on outside. After agonizing for about 2 miles, I finally just shut the thing off and restarted it. Luckily, it saved my time, but of course I had only data for the remaining 24 miles. Then to complicate the pacing, I somehow got ahead of the 4:45 guy. I think he was off pace, or maybe we both were. It turned out we both had to go to the bathroom around mile 5. There was a long line, though, but I didn't have a choice. If he was stopping, I needed to let him get ahead of me. I lost a lot of time there, so it ended up becoming a race! I had to catch the 5:15 guy and pass him. I got a few funny looks but just focused on catching the one guy I knew I was supposed to be pacing.<br><br>
I also picked up a lady, or should I say she picked me up? She flirted and said she might want to finish with me. I locked into the right pace and had fun after that. She was my shadow, never letting me get too far ahead of her. I finally found my guy about miles 24-25, struggling, and I passed him. I told him to keep his head up and not to worry about his finish time because it was his first. I also encouraged several others who were obviously struggling. I didn't make my goal either-I finished in 5:05:12-but I came in with a nice little group, including my shadow. I gave her a high five at the 50-yard line of the big football stadium at the University.<br><br>
Although I don't have the Garmin data to back it up, I think this was my hilliest marathon ever. With the elevation correction on Sport Tracks, it says Climb +1,583 feet and -1,460. That's not including the first couple of miles, either.<br><img alt="" src="http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/KarlRysted/Knoxville.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Rose and the Rocket Scientist were kind enough to meet me at the finish. We made plans for the evening, and after naps all around, we did go to Mass and then dinner. It was a wonderful evening to cap off a wonderful weekend.
 
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#2 ·
Thank you for pacing, Opie. It's a fine service to the running community!
 
#4 ·
Nice job Opie!<br><br>
Thanks for the elevation chart, makes me feel better about my effort.<br><br>
Here's Opie's Team finishing:<br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/opiesfolks.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here is Opie on the JumboTron:<br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/opieonthejumbotron.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Opie congratulating some of his team:<br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/opiethepacer.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
A very happy Opie:<br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/opiefinishedneylandstadium.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
And Opie with his snack:<br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/happyopiefinisher.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
It was fun watching Opie and his team finish. He met us for mass at the college and we even got to be present when a student named, Eli, was baptized... full immersion! It was nice to worship with the UT college kids and sit between Opie and Ralphie. I am a lucky girl. Even luckier, because then we went out to eat at Calhoun's on the river. Delicious!
 
#5 ·
Great job pacer Opie. Sure glad you ended up making the trip. Thanks from the KTC and the Knoxville Marathon. Was great to meet you on Saturday, and sorry I didn't have the chance to catch you after the race on Sunday. I got caught up taking down all the starting line structures and then I had to get out and start removing things from the course. Hope to cross paths again at another race in the future. Chances should be good if you keep cranking them out like you have been. Way to go.
 
#7 ·
very cool Opster! I had no idea you were a pacer in this marathon? I must have missed that part of the trip.<br><br>
Can you be 4:30 my pacer in Eugene? <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">
 
#8 ·
Between the Garmin problems and the potty stop you came out pretty close to your time goal! I'd like to have you be my pacer for a first marathon.
 
#9 ·
Great job on pacing.<br><br>
Yes, it's one hilly marathon course. I've done two long runs on the course in the last few months. I was there two weeks ago and did 22 miles including the first 15 miles of the course. there's a reason why that neighborhood that runs along the river is called Sequoia Hills. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">
 
#10 ·
Great racing Pacer Op.<br>
I had a great time with you guys Saturday<br>
We'll try to make that happen again.<br><br>
In case any Feds are listening <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"><br>
The still is not entirely my own,<br>
but a community non-profit fund-raising venture<br>
our neighborhood chipped in to build.<br><br>
Anytime my friend.<br>
jjj
 
#11 ·
Great job Opie! Yes, TN is long! 3 hours + to Memphis from Nashville and nearly the same to Knoxville! that time change alway throws me off for races in the east third of the state.<br><br>
Thanks for doing the pace group. It is always special for some folks who have that help for their first marathon!
 
#13 ·
Great report and great job recovering and finishing so close to goal Opie!<br>
And thanks for the pictures Rosie!
 
#15 ·
Opie, my friend, I am so glad your dream of pacing came thru. I remember you talking to me about it at Bellingham. You did it!!!!!. Knowing you and your love for the sport, those people whom you were pacing had a fine leader to take them to the finish line.<br><br>
The pictures posted by Rosie are priceless. Thanks Rosie.
 
#16 ·
...Nice Running Opie//.......after getting yourself kicked out of the Bar that night,<br>
I wondered<br>
if you would Make Bail by that morning.....<br><br>
.........gotta do this one again...........
 
#18 ·
Opie, sounds like you had a great time, looks like it too from the pics! Great job being a pacer, that's pretty cool!!<br><br>
As an LSU fan, I just have to say I'm sorry you had to hang out at UT!!! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br>
Seriously though, Knoxville is a great place.
 
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