Of course crossing a finish line warrants a big smile on a pacer’s face and that is why every finish line photo is flooded with smiles but today we want to retract 3 KM’s before the finish line, get in to the pacer’s mind and find, what do they think then?
Pacing is akin to a dance or singing performance in many ways. You are being watched, the spotlight is on you, you feel the pressure of performing and there is adrenaline rush. The only difference being, pacing can go on for hours. For example, some of our full marathon pacers run for 5 hours 30 mins. Good Lord! Imagine singing or dancing for that long! Clearly, pacers handle the performance pressure for way longer than most other performances.
Post the Sundown Marathon this year, in our collection of photos we found a photo ( photo below ) where each of our pacers apart from running hard, was thinking hard too. It is hard to find photos like these because our pacers over the years have developed an involuntary reaction to camera, A BIG BROAD SMILE. So, if only the camera is not in their sight, you find photos like these. Hence, this photo piqued our curiosity and we asked them
At this point, what is going through your mind?
Photo Credit: Pictureart Gallery
What are you thinking 3 KM before the finishing line
1) Soo: Didn’t realise we are at the hand holding stage already. 
I don’t want it to end!
Really Soo, don’t want it to end! We shall just call that a Soo Statement and move on. But we do know she means every word of it. That’s Soo for you.
2) Red Barker: “At that moment captured in the picture I was feeling thankful and proud of the team around me. Mainly because we had successfully kept to a steady, even pace and helped others achieve their goals and targets.”
3) Jacky Lo: “We’ve came so far. Push on and let’s cross the finish TOGETHER!”
4) Glendys Lim: “Damn proud of Full Marathon Team 4 Hrs! By then I knew for sure they will achieve their goal.It was somewhat bittersweet as well. Because I knew that the last 3km would be the finale to all the wonderful trainings that the teams had done together for this SDM. I was more than just happy to be there supporting & running to give them the final push all the way to the finishing line.”
5) Andy Tsui: “Never before felt this strong coming to the end of a full marathon. I felt stronger and stronger towards the finishing point and I really wanted to get the whole team to finish off with a fantastic smile. Shouting and motivating them is what I can do for now and I will keep up the hype till the end.”
6) Low Choo Chye: “It was a a great feeling that I can be of help to the Full Marathon Team 4 hrs . I think moral support indeed is very important especially towards the last 3 km. And in pacing we really work as a team.”
7 ) Keith Chan: Oops, Keith is actually not visible in the photo but was right behind Andy and very much visible in his support. “I am just really glad that Full MarathonTeam 4Hrs was able to meet their target in the really humid night run, kudos to the team for hanging on.”
So, smile may not be the highlight, 3KM before the finish line but Pride certainly was beaming in all of them.
Well, we are very proud of you all too! Here is to many more safe, happy and successful pacing assignments!
Inspired to pace and lead runners to their goals after reading this? Join us as a pacer for The Straits Times Run 2019 and Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2019!
