To Pace or not to Pace?

I sort of used pacers at Baltimore. But I also floated between two different groups, so....A pace group is only as good as your ability to stay with them.

If you rabbit and die, then pacers are probably a good idea.

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Fleeb makes a good point.  Scratch my earlier "half-way" advice.  I'd run with the 3:10 group all the way.

I never said I was SMART Hawkeye!!!

Edited by Marvarnett 2006-12-08 12:12 PM

yeah I would run with the pace group they are helpful and fun. In Chicago the pace group leaders I beleive need to finish +- 2 mins so keep that in mind that just because your in the pace group they may not get you exactly at 3:10 for the boston BQ.

Hopely your rest was good rest and not too restful and you may be fine. My best marathon was the one I was least trained for atleast in terms of long runs.

You're an ex-Navy nuke and a nucleur engineer ...... admittedly that ain't rocket science, but it's pretty damn close!

Totally go with the pacers. With no marathon specific training you are in for a world of hurt if you try to do it on yor own. Luckily with the IM and World Long Course stuff you should have enough in the bank to complete it. But a 3:10 is a tall order ....... you saw how many miles I logged and I still only got a 3:12 (luckily being an older fart my qualifying time is 3:15). Run smart and you may have a solid shot at it.

Yup, another vote for the pace group here

Couple of friends of mine are regular pace group leaders and they do an excellent job of pacing out a race. They will be Marathon Veterans pacing at well below their personal MP and will usually have local course knowledge.

Some races, (San Francisco Marathon comes to mind) actuall switch pace leaders at the half so that you get a fresh rabbit. (Might check to see what Disney is doing here)

I would stick to the leaders like glue through at least mile 25. They will deliver you to within throwing distance of the finish line and you can make the BQ happen in the final mile.

Good Luck

Please keep track of your pace when you are with the pace group.

Most pacers are very good, some not so good. You may miss your time if you depend only on the pacer. Also talk to the pacer, most like to run close to even splits, but some will go out slowly and try for negative splits, others will try to put time in the bank.

I had a pace leader that was going for 6:30 finish for a marathon and I wanted to take it easy so I was going to follow him. Well Frankly after about 2 miles I knew he was going to be way off so I left him and I finished at 6:45 and he was no where in site. Now I did not have boston in sites but I had to check out of my hotel and if I followed him I would been late and had to pay for another 1/2 day which may not been bad for me but since it was a $250 a night my discounted rate would be higher than the 1/2 day cost would have been. No idea when he finished but he was well off maybe finish 7 hours.

I would assume since 3:10 is a pretty decent time that it would be easier for a pace leader to fall off pace. Then again who knows it might some 2:45 marathoner and he can do it easy.

I would have one of those pace bands and your own watch and you can see how you are doing. I use the pace group for a group to run with more than using them to keep my pace. Good Chance though if the leaders are falling behind many people in the group will kick it up and pace themselves since it an important group when it comes to boston.

I had fun running with the pacers at my best marathon. I ran behind the 3:50 group at the start, and by the time I finished, I was with the 3:40 group. It was a huge motivator to see those balloons in front of me, as I realized I could get a BQ if I really went for it.