Marathon Pace Team Information
Looking for a Boston Marathon qualifying time? A personal best finish time? A women's Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time? The CIM Celebrity Pace Team leaders will help you achieve your finish time goal!
Continue reading the FAQs for more information about the CIM Pace Teams. Also, you may click on the links to the left to visit each of the 2011 Pace Team Leaders' pages. 2012 Pace Team Leader info will be posted in the coming months.
Also, check out the praise CIM runners have heaped on these amazing volunteers.
CIM Pace Team FAQs
WHAT IS A PACE TEAM:
A pace team is a group of runners who wish to achieve a specific finish time goal. Examples of such goals include a personal best time, a Boston Marathon qualifying time, or perhaps a finish time that suits the conditioning a runner has trained to achieve.
WHAT IS A PACE TEAM LEADER:
This is an experienced long distance runner who will coach the pace team runners to their set time goal. The leader will do this by setting a steady pace based on the terrain of CIM and by offering encouragement and advice. The Pace Team Leader has the capability of finishing the event anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes faster, so they can devote their extra energy to assisting their team. Most of the leaders have run CIM multiple times so they are very familiar with the course.
Check out the Pace Team Leaders' bios, photos, and interviews by clicking on the pace times to the left.
DO I NEED TO SIGN UP FOR A PACE TEAM:
You are not required to sign up for a Pace Team, although there will be sign-up lists at the Pace Team booth at the CIM Sports and Fitness Expo so your Pace Team Leaders will be able to anticipate the number of people to look out for at the start.
MEETING YOUR PACE TEAM LEADER BEFORE THE EVENT:
Learn about the CIM Pace Team leaders at the Pace Team booth at the CIM Sports and Fitness Expo.
QUALIFYING FOR BOSTON:
For the 2013 Boston Marathon, qualifying times are more stringent, and must be run on or after September 24, 2011. Like the 2012 registration process, the acceptance of official race entrants will be based on qualifying time, with the fastest qualifiers (in relation to their age and gender) being accepted first until the race is full.
Your 2011 CIM time will be suitable as a qualifier for the 2013 Boston. Also, if you run a faster time between the 2011 CIM and the 2013 Boston Marathon, you may submit that time for a better corral start.
Click HERE for more information on qualifying for Boston.
WHAT ARE PACE WRIST BANDS:
These are bands you can wear on your wrist that have each mile split for your goal finish time written on them. Whether or not you are participating on a Pace Team, you may pick one of these up at the Pace Team booth at the Expo, for free!
HOW DO I FIND MY PACE TEAM AT THE START:
The Pace Team Leaders will be located on the east side of Auburn-Folsom Rd. near the start and they will be holding red and white signs that will have goal finish times on them. Go to your group and introduce yourself to your leader.
TRACKING YOUR PACE TEAM LEADER:
Your Pace Team leader will be carrying his/her goal finish time sign during the entire distance.
WILL THE PACE TEAM LEADERS STOP AT AID STATIONS:
No. He or she will encourage you to take fluids but will maintain a steady pace. If you wish to walk at the aid stations, walk briskly and then very gradually catch up to your group. Do not sprint to catch up as this uses energy inefficiently.
I TAKE A WALKING BREAK AFTER EACH MILE. HOW WILL THIS WORK IF I WANT TO BE ON A PACE TEAM:
The Pace Team Leaders will not be taking walking breaks. If you wish to do this but still want to be part of a Pace Team, walk briskly and then very gradually catch up to your group. Again, do not sprint to catch up.
WHAT IF I NEED TO TAKE A PORTA-POTTY BREAK:
The same principle applies as is described in the walking break scenarios above. Gradually catch up to your group afterward.
WILL EVERY MILE SPLIT BE EXACTLY THE SAME:
There will be some variation in mile splits due to the terrain. Your Pace Leaders are familiar with CIM and will explain these variations during the run.
WHAT IF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE TERRIBLE:
Depending on your overall fitness, you might want to shift your goal time to a slower time. The Pace Team Leaders have selected pace times well within their capabilities and will be sticking to their finish goal times.
WHAT IF THE PACE TEAM LEADER HAS AN UNEXPECTED PROBLEM AND IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE:
You never know what might happen during 26.2 miles. Hopefully among your group there will be others willing to share leadership responsibilities. Also, remember that the synergy of a group with a specific goal will provide the incentive to continue and achieve your goal. Stick together and carry on!
ISN'T "PACING" ILLEGAL IN A USATF SANCTIONED EVENT:
If a pacing service is offered to everyone in the event it is not illegal (similar to having hired "rabbits" at other events). Pacing is illegal when someone assists a runner or other runners as a special service to just those runners.
INTERESTED IN BEING A LEADER OR HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
Email Lee McKinley, CIM Celebrity Pace Team Coordinator.
LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES:
We will appreciate receiving feedback from you. Send an e-mail with your comments and suggestions to Lee McKinley.
