PACERS needed!!!

"The 2011 Cebu Marathon will be bigger and better" as promised by Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) President Jessie Taborada and the rest of its members. We will be giving away better souvenir shirts to the first 4,500 registrants. We will try our best to include the SRP tunnel in the route. We will provide all runners with a timing chip. And, as requested, we will provide 42K Pace Group Leaders.

Pace Group Leaders or better known as Pacers are runners who run at a specific pace to finish at a pre-determined time. They run at a constant pace or will follow a negative split. They wear markers or balloons to let runners know that they are pacers. The target finish time will also be visible on the balloon. They are usually in pairs so that if one pacer is unable to comply with the target time then the other pacer will take over. Some pace groups will also have Sweepers. These people motivate or push runners who are lagging behind the pace group. 

The next Cebu Marathon needs pace group leaders. Members of Team Reborn, which are the pacers for Cebu City races, are not yet ready to run the full marathon. Although the team has been trained very well by Coach Noy and Lorhiz, its members are not eligible to pace. Members of the team who had finished a full marathon are also members or CERC. Annie, Jane, Nica, Andrew and me will be in charge of assigned water stations during the race. 

Cebu Marathon organizers will be giving incentives to runners who are willing to lead pace groups. For a runner to be eligible, he or she must have ran the full marathon at least twice and finished with a time better than the chosen Pace Group target time. The eligible runner must be present during the Carbo-Loading party for proper introduction to all participants. They must be willing to run with balloons tied to their running gear and MUST wear the Cebu Marathon Singlet. The pacer will have free 42K registration and is guaranteed of a souvenir shirt (If already registered, organizers will refund your registration fee). Pacers will still receive a race bib, timing chip and singlet. The pacers can avail of the New Balance shoes' discount and will receive a Free Carbo-Loading Party pass. The pacer will still receive the Finisher's Medal after completing the race.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! 

Being a Pace Group Leader isn't easy. Pacers must motivate, push or (when needed) drag the lagging runner in the pace group. Pacers are also good entertainers and maintain a lively pace group. These runners sacrifice their next PR to help others get theirs. Pacers are Runners with a Heart. 

Interested eligible runners may contact me for other details and verification. Please email me at reelrunning@ceburunning.com. Thank you!!! 

Published November 4, 2010 at SunStar Newspaper.

Official PACE GROUP Leaders of Cebu

Last weekend was memorable for me and the rest of TEAM REBORN. We proved to many Cebuanos that the team is strong in both running and triathlon.

(Team Reborn)

Starting Friday, the team attended a 3 day Triathlon Clinic by Coach Mat O’ Halloran and Team Reborn Coach Noy Jopson. We did an easy ride to Catmon and completed a few technical swims to prepare for race day.

(Team Reborn with Mat during Tri Clinic)

Team Reborn then conquered the 1st Naga Sprint Triathlon as members won in almost all categories. Coaches Mat O’ Halloran and Noy Jopson won 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the Male Open Sprint Category while Tyrone and daughter, Rochelle, both placed 1st in the Male and Female Super Sprint Category. Team Reborn Swim Coach Lorhiz Echavez placed 1st in the Female Sprint Category while Jane-Jane Ong placed 3rd. I and Joseph Miller placed 2nd and 3rd place in the Seniors 30 Category while Tenggoy Colmenares finished first in the Masters 40 Category. Merly Colmenares also placed 3rd in the Super Sprint category. The Team celebrated victory at Tyrone’s residence and prepared for next day’s race.

(Team Reborn pacer group leaders with Balloons)

It is not the first time that Team Reborn lead a pace group during one of Cebu’s big races. During the recent 34th Milo Marathon Cebu Eliminations the team lead pace group sub-2:00 hours and sub-2:30. We lead Cebuanos to the finish line and to a new personal record (PR). RUNCheck sponsored “Run to the Max 3: Conquer the Hill” also had pace group leaders. The Team, sponsored by Holiday Gym and RUNCheck, was asked by organizer and Team Mate Annie Neric to lead pace groups. We lead several pace groups as Annie wanted participants to have several options for a PR. Coaches Noy Jopson and Lorhiz Echavez lead the Sub 1:30 pace while I ran a sub 1:40 pace. Tenggoy and Jung lead the sub 1:50 and the sub 2:00 pace group respectively. Runners only have to keep up or stay ahead of the pace leaders to be assured of a new PR. After winning the Naga Triathlon race, Mat also placed 5th in the Open category during the run while other team mates Merly, Amale, Nica, Jane-Jane and Lorhiz also placed in the respective categories. Male team mates also amused participants as they showcased their skills not only in triathlon but also in dancing as well. (See Video)

(Team Reborn Dance number)

(Mat 5th place win)

 (Amale and Lorhiz win)

 (Jane-Jane and Merly win)

(Nica win)

Pace group leaders are runners who run at a pre-determined speed to finish at a target finish time. They do not aim for a PR but instead lead other runners get their PR. They are experienced runners who carry banners or balloons to tell participants where they are in the course. Runners can stay behind the pace group leader or run ahead. When falling back from the group, pace groups also have sweepers to help or motivate runners to keep up the pace. Cebu is lucky to have volunteers to lead pace groups. Members of Team Reborn are now the official pace group leaders for RUNCheck races and other runs in Cebu.

 (Lorhiz - Sub 1:30 Pace Group Leader)

  (Noy - Sub 1:30 Pace Group Leader)

 
(Reel and Tyrone - Sub 1:40 Pace Group Leader)

  (Tenggoy - Sub 1:50 Pace Group Leader)

  (Jung - Sub 2:00 Pace Group Leader)

 Will the next Cebu City Marathon have Pacers?