Has anyone run with the pace team in WDW?

[jbucci]

I'm getting ready for my first full marathon in Jan and am starting to panic. I have done 3 halves in preparation but somehow the 26.2 is scaring me and I need something to obsess over, so I've decided it will be my pace.

Has anyone run with the Clif pace teams in the WDW marathon? I'm hoping to finish in the range of 5:30-6:00. Do the pacers exclusively run or do a R/W combo? Does anyone know what finish times will have pacers?

I'm just looking for info to help calm my newbie nerves. Thanks.

-jen

 

[10nis]

I have never run w/ a pace team but I have certainly seen and most importantly - heard them! Some of the pace leaders really have a lot of fun w/ their groups while running. It seems like the pace teams I have seen walk through the water stops and run the rest of the time?? THe pace groups for the marathon range from 3:10 to 5:30.


Here is the link to register:
http://www.clifbar.com/play/pace_team

I got this info off of the disney marathon website:
CLIF Bar Pace Team

The CLIF Bar Pace Team is excited to be the "Official" Pace Team of the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon! This group of runners truly enjoy helping runners of all abilities achieve their Marathon goals, and are looking forward to meeting and running with you at the 2009 WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon! If you want to run with a pace leader who knows how to keep even splits, get you to the finish line within two minutes UNDER the CLIF Bar Pace Team time, and enjoy the camaraderie of a group working together toward a common goal, the CLIF Bar Pace Team is for you!

Groups are being offered and as always, participating is FREE, and registration is open to ALL runners of the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon and Half Marathon. Each online registrant will be sent a free CLIF BAR TRAINING KIT, which includes samples of their products along with some useful training and race-day tips

Good luck....I think if you want some comaraderie while trying to achieve a certain goal it is a good idea. The groups I have seen were rather large -- and they run very "together" --- body fluids and all


Suzy

 

[kaf7878]

We were at a different start than the pace team we were trying to follow (I think it was the 5 hour team). At he expo, the CLIFF rep gave us a bracelet with our mile times to look at during the race in order to reach our goal. He also said to keep our eyes open for the group--that we would certainly find them.

We did find them but were unable to keep that pace (really needed the 5:30 group). The leaders carried balloons with the pace time written on them--easy to spot! And they did take walk breaks according to the leader's strategy. x minutes run and then maybe a 30 sec to 1 min walk it looked like.

The big thing to remember is that they don't stop for you to hit the restrooms or anything so you really need to do that quickly and then sprint to catch up with them.

Good luck!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hi Jen: Here's some advice you can use to soothe your nerves. Just keep reciting this line...

SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW!!

I've found the Pace teams are exclusive run teams, but maybe they walk through a water stop. I tried to keep up with them a couple times, but I found it was worse for me because I couldn't take the walk breaks that I was used to from my training.

Usually, there are pace groups of WISHers on the boards that form for the marathon and half. Groups of WISHers planning on running the same pace will band together and meet up at the start. That was sooooo helpful to me when I ran my first marathon and Disney. Having a group of experienced WISHers with me got me through the race, and made the miles go by sooo quickly.