The -OFFICIAL- Dublin Marathon Pacers - Pacer Race Day Instructions now in

Hard Worker · 30-09-2009 12:33PM

IronTractorBoy wrote: »

Are joking about the balloon?

There seems to be shock in your expression.

The balloons will be at the start area so that people will know where to line up with the pacers. You won't actually have to carry them 26 miles and 385 yards.

IronTractorBoy · 30-09-2009 12:38PM

I just thought the drag from the balloon would slow me down too much.

--amadeus-- · 30-09-2009 12:52PM

Hard Worker wrote: »

There seems to be shock in your expression.
The balloons will be at the start area so that people will know where to line up with the pacers. You won't actually have to carry them 26 miles and 385 yards.

Really? I assumed we would have them tied to our singlet - that's what they do in Rotterdam and it makes the pacers easy to spot. I'd certainly be willing to do it. Hey, the lift from teh balloon will balance out the drag!

jlang · 30-09-2009 12:53PM

Hard Worker wrote: »

You won't actually have to carry them 26 miles and 385 yards.

As far as I remember, they did at Vienna - much more visible from a distance in a crowd. The string only needs to be a couple of feet long and if the end ofit was pinned to the back of the shoulder or tied around the shoulder of a singlet it wouldn't really be too detrimental for the pacer. (I think)

asimonov · 30-09-2009 01:56PM

as if ye're job wasn't hard enough

Aimman · 30-09-2009 02:04PM

asimonov wrote: »

as if ye're job wasn't hard enough

I'm sorry, but I refuse to run behind anyone holding a baloon full of gas with the word 'Fartholder' on their shirt. :P

osnola ibax · 30-09-2009 02:15PM

asimonov wrote: »

as if ye're job wasn't hard enough

This is truly an exceptional service guys, but if it's ok with you lot, I'll hold my own

Wally Runs · 30-09-2009 03:37PM

Amsterdam also had ballons and it worked well. There was concerns that they would drag down as you went along. I think you need about four or five to keep them up. London is a balsa wood stick with the time on a sign. Wounded Knee ran as a pacer in London with this and said it was light and did not cause a problem. I guess you could pass it between the pacers. Would not fancy it myself. What about coloured head/sweat bands? Green for 3.30, yellow for 4.00 and so on. If bright enough they do stand out. Should be easy enough to source at this stage.

mithril · 30-09-2009 04:27PM

The coloured balloon I was trying to follow in Seville lasted all of 5 minutes before it slipped out of the pacers hands and flew back over the stadium wall.
Having some additional clothing or accessory to distinguish the pacer would appear prudent.

Krusty_Clown · 30-09-2009 04:35PM

The balloon is the only reason I'm giving this pacing gig a go.

There should be a prize for any pacer who manages to hold onto their balloon until the finish (which I might add is a lot easier for you 3 hour folks!).

Yes, I know, the prize is you get to keep the balloon...

Cashel · 06-10-2009 10:08PM

Hi,

Just to say I look forward to linking up with a pacer for the DCM. Thank you for organising it. As a first time marathoner anything that helps get me around the 26.2miles is really appreciated. Balloons make it worth it

Sosa · 06-10-2009 11:34PM

Hard Worker wrote: »

The two original pacers had to withdraw through injury. There is now one confirmed replacement and another who returned from a holiday in the U.S. today and is going to be roped in, although he doesn't know it yet.

Was the other guy roped in ?

Hard Worker · 06-10-2009 11:54PM

Sosa wrote: »

Was the other guy roped in ?

Yep. We have two confirmed 3 hour pacers.

Sosa · 07-10-2009 09:11AM

Hard Worker wrote: »

Yep. We have two confirmed 3 hour pacers.

Thats great news.

--amadeus-- · 07-10-2009 09:49AM

Well I don't know about you miserable sods but I'll be carrying my balloon with pride! (Well having it tied to me with pride but that doesn't scan so well)

One thing I noticed on my last long run and I thought might be worth mentioning here... I was doing a progression run, 6@7:45, 6@7:15 and 6@PMP. Having done a few PMP runs I was able to judge and hit PMP pace fairly consistently but I struggled to hit the lower paces. In particular the 7:45, where I bounced from 7:3x to 7:5x. Now it averaged out to 7:45 but I wasn't able to judge the pace accurately enough to run it consistently or evenly. I had assumed that the only real issue I would have would be fatigue from A'Dam and the pace hadn't really been a consideration. But obviously pacers can't be bouncing 15 - 30 secs either side of the target pace and so I am going to have to do a few runs at sub 4 pace to develop a "feel" for it. Just something else to think about for you all

IronTractorBoy · 07-10-2009 12:36PM

I did a 15 mile race a few weeks ago plan was to do it at PMP, although I get carried away at the start and went of nearly a minute quicker, which then slowed down. Using the garmin virtual pacer I tried be 200-300 ft ahead so not massively ahead of target but allowed to slow down at aid station and any required "pit stops". Despite the heat on day I was then fairly even paced and was a massive 0.6 seconds/mile under my target pace.

Is there any further pacer news kit/expo/start... as it is only a couple of weeks away now?

HardyEustace · 07-10-2009 12:43PM

Sorry if this has been asked already but with regard to water stops will pacers

1. just run through water stops
2. run a little faster and then walk through water stops
3. maintain pace needed for finish times and then speed up after going through water stops to maintain this time.

hunnymonster · 07-10-2009 12:45PM

I'll do whatever I'm told to do, but I would imagine the sensible thing would be for pacers to keep constant pace and if people want to slow down to drink, they can catch up with the balloons soon enough.

Oisin11178 · 07-10-2009 12:53PM

Will people have to sign up to be part of 1 of the pacing groups or just look out for them on the day?

Peckham · 07-10-2009 12:57PM

IronTractorBoy wrote: »

Using the garmin virtual pacer I tried be 200-300 ft ahead so not massively ahead of target but allowed to slow down at aid station and any required "pit stops".

Can see how it's a huge challenge to "step down" to a much slower pace to what you're used to (especially if it's slower than your general aerobic pace).

Using the garmin virtual pacer (for those who have this facility) in preparation could be the solution.

Krusty_Clown · 07-10-2009 01:05PM

Oisin11178 - You can just head towards the balloons/pacers on the day, and try to stick with them for the duration (not as easy as it sounds). For a once-off exclusive €7.99, you can carry the ballon for a while.

Peckham - Due to racing-line implications and crowd weaving, unfortunately, the virtual pacre isn't really sufficient. I'll be wearing the Garmin on one wrist, and a stop-watch/pacing band on the other. I have an 18 mile run planned this weekend, and intent to finish at sub-4 pace. Might even do it around the final mile sof the course, if anyone wants to meet up and run through the last few miles?

hunnymonster · 07-10-2009 01:10PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

For a once-off exclusive €7.99, you can carry the ballon for a while.

I'm surprised amadeus didn't come up with that one.... I'm sure he'll be selling signed photo's though.

What do you reckon I could get for offering someone a piggyback at mile 25?

Krusty_Clown · 07-10-2009 01:47PM

hunnymonster wrote: »

What do you reckon I could get for offering someone a piggyback at mile 25?

Hmm... Just at mile 25, or from mile 25 to the end? I'll star tthe bidding at €20 euro.

MCOS · 07-10-2009 01:53PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Hmm... Just at mile 25, or from mile 25 to the end? I'll star tthe bidding at €20 euro.

To ride HM for approx 10 mins or 3.5 hours depending on the answer....

I'll see your €20 and raise you my car, house and left arm

Peckham · 07-10-2009 02:50PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Peckham - Due to racing-line implications and crowd weaving, unfortunately, the virtual pacre isn't really sufficient. I'll be wearing the Garmin on one wrist, and a stop-watch/pacing band on the other. I have an 18 mile run planned this weekend, and intent to finish at sub-4 pace. Might even do it around the final mile sof the course, if anyone wants to meet up and run through the last few miles?

I agree it's close to useless on race day, but I meant that using it as a signal to slowdown on training runs to get used to the slower pace...i.e. get it to beep like crazy at you until you're running in the right pace bracket.

Krusty_Clown · 07-10-2009 06:13PM

Of course. Nobody would understand the implications of racing line better than you. You must wake up screaming thinking about race lines, and pit-stops that took 1 second too long.

village runner · 07-10-2009 10:20PM

When is the gear posted out ?
Wouldnt mind trying it on for a few runs.
I run alot of my runs at 8 min mile pace so i just hope the mile signs are accurate. I found them to be very inaccurate at the ten mile. The first very long and last very short.
Even in Berlin i found some very long and the last 2.2km short. At 8 min a mile my maths is good enough to work it out.

Hard Worker · 07-10-2009 10:38PM

Sorry for delay with news on the gear: Should have it in a couple of days and I will then post it out.
I thought you might all be more concerned about the colour of the balloons. Judging by Amadeus' post above, he will carry his with pride. One of the balloons is actually pink. The others are red, yellow, purple and black. It will be a random, luck of the draw as to who gets the pink. The balloon company have been given the pace times and we will just have to wait and see which time goes with which colour.
Your acceptance slips should be in the post.
The post race shower room is booked in the Conrad. I will give them a list of names. It should be OK to meet there afterwards so that you can have a few scoops to assist with building up your haemoglobin levels before heading off into the night. You may also see the race winners there, although, if you want to have a chat with them, you might need to brush up on your Ukraine and Russian.

eliwallach · 08-10-2009 10:28AM

Hard Worker wrote: »

The post race shower room is booked in the Conrad. I will give them a list of names. It should be OK to meet there afterwards so that you can have a few scoops.

Is this post race shower room exclusive to the pacers only or is it available to Boards AC members, or is it for any one who knows about it?

It really would be a godsend for me

.

village runner · 08-10-2009 06:26PM

Hard Worker wrote: »

Sorry for delay with news on the gear: Should have it in a couple of days and I will then post it out.

Any chance of getting my number posted out ? I wont make the expo both days. Have a course sat and a local county final which takes prefence even over my running. Might have to get someone collect it sat.

The -OFFICIAL- Dublin Marathon Pacers - Pacer Race Day Instructions now in

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