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Meet the 2019 3M Half Marathon Pacing Group

Get to know your 2019 pacing group

You’re registered. You’re training. You have a goal time in mind. This is your first half marathon. You want to PR. You want to beat last year’s time. Whatever your race day goals, the Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club pacing group will guide you. Meet your 2019 3M Half Marathon pace team, learn where to find them on race day, and read a few dos and don’ts of running with a pacing group.

Find your pacing group:

Look for the Twenty-Six Two pacing group in the starting corrals holding pace signs. Those signs correspond to the paces designated by signs in the corrals. There will be two pacers per each pace group (finish times of 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:25, 2:30). The pacers will also be wearing matching running outfits that say “PACER” or otherwise designated them as official 3M Half Marathon pacers.

1:30 Anthony Jacobs Ryan McLagan
1:35 Joe Terracina Leland Mangum
1:40 Charlie Werth John Golden
1:45 Karim Elmrabet Talaya Frazier
1:50 Jennifer Goetz Jose Reyes
1:55 Paul Carmona Kara Levy
2:00 Eric Johnson Laura O’Connor
2:05 Steve Pina Summer Smith
2:10 Katie Carmona Eva Oleksy
2:15 Fran Roda Priscilla Norosky
2:20 Ted Kvapil Sam Gammage
2:25 Jessica Mangrum Jillian Baaklini
2:30 Shannon Arriaga Molly Stapleton

Pacing group dos: 

  • DO ask questions before the start about your pacing group’s race plan. Most will run slightly slower at first, and then pick up speed in the middle miles of the race. However, each pace group is slightly different, so make sure to ask any questions before the race begins.
  • DO drink at water stations along the way if you normally take water or sports drink during the race. The pacing group will slow down slightly to allow runners to catch up after water stops.
  • DO ask questions or introduce yourself during the race if you are inclined. The pacers are all accustomed to racing at paces faster than what they are pacing, so they should be able to answer your questions.

    pace team

    Summer (4256) and Steve (4530) will lead the 2:05 group for 2018. Claire (5241) will lead the 2:15 group for 2018.

  • DO ask what your splits should be at each mile marker, and compare the pacers’ times with your watch or GPS device. You want to make sure that you are “in sync” with the pacers’ official times.
  • DO relax and let the pacing group guide you! They are trained to finish at (or slightly faster than) their designated finish times.

Pacing group don’ts:

  • DON’T struggle to stay right next to or behind the pacers, especially at the beginning when it is crowded. As long as you are near them along the way, you will have plenty of time to stick with them after a few miles.
  • DON’T try to start out with a pacing group that is significantly faster than you are accustomed to running. Find the pace group that is right for you, and enjoy the race as the pacers lead you to the finish line.
  • DON’T forget that the pacing group is targeting a finish that corresponds to their own chip time, not the official “gun time.” If your pace group crosses the start line several minutes after the race begins, the pacers will be following their own chip time, not the “clock” time at the finish. Make sure to ask along the way what the pacers’ time is, and compare it to your own time. If you are unsure whether you are “ahead of” or “behind” the pacers’ time, ask them! They will answer your questions.

Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club (TST) is an Austin-based nonprofit group that provides low-cost training to men and women marathoners and half marathoners throughout the year. Since 2005, TST has trained hundreds of runners for races in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Antonio, and many other cities (and countries). TST’s Pace Team provides pacers for races year-round and is comprised of club members who have run multiple marathons and half-marathons.

Running Movies You Should Watch

Add these running movies to your “Must Watch” list

With the holiday break just days away you might find yourself with some extra time on your hands. Or maybe you want to relax after eating a little too much. Perhaps you just need some time away from your crazy uncle Nathan. Maybe you need some downtime after your 3M Half Marathon training long run. Whatever your reason, get your favorite hydration, grab your foam roller, and click play on these running movies.

Forrest Gump

If you’ve never watched this classic and paid attention to the way running is portrayed, well, it happens… Do yourself a favor and watch Forrest Gump now! The use of running in this film reflects a number of reasons why many of us run: because we’re told we can’t, escape from danger, score touchdowns, and because you feel like running. While this might not be a running-themed movie like the others on this list, the role running plays is undeniable. Just like the role running plays in your life.

The Barkley Marathons

This documentary covers what some call the toughest ultramarathon in the world The Barkley Marathon. There were zero finishers in 2018. The ultramarathon is held in Frozen Head State Park, near a tiny Tennessee town. It accepts 35 runners a year. Lazarus Lake created the race, mocking a failed prison escape that took place nearby. The unmarked course changes every year. Participants must find hidden books and remove pages that are associated with their bib number as proof.

McFarland, USA

Everyone loves the underdog story. Kevin Costner plays a former football coach turned track coach. At this new school, he discovers that some of the students he teaches are exceptional runners. They’re driven by the same factors that drive you: a desire to get better and commitment to the team. Follow their journey as they grow from beginner runners to champions.

Chariots of Fire

Based on a true story, Chariots of Fire is a 1981 drama that won Oscars and Academy Awards. The film follows two sprinters who compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics for different reasons. Erik Liddell believes he must succeed to spread the word of his faith. Harold Abrahams runs to be accepted and prove that Jews are not inferior. Follow the runners during their training, driven by their desires. You’ll see that the themes presented (commitment, sacrifice, devotion) mirror what you endure as a runner too.

Running Brave

Running Brave is about Billy Mills, a Native American who grew up on a South Dakota reservation. Mills shocked the world at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when he won the 10,000-meter run. He was a member of the Sioux tribe, ran track at the University of Kansas, and earned a spot in the Tokyo Olympics. He defeated a world-class field. No American had ever won the 10,000-meter before. The closest since Mills’ run, when Galen Rupp took silver at the 2012 London Olympics.

Ascension Seton Named 3M Half Marathon’s Official Medical Provider

Professionals from Ascension Seton bring decades of experience to race day

High Five Events names Ascension Seton as the Official Medical Provider for the 2019 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour. At the finish line medical tent, their experienced team will provide the best care available should participants need it. Similarly, they’ll have an on-course presence during the race. The 3M Half Marathon will take place on Jan. 20, 2019.

“Ascension Seton is excited to be a partner with the High Five Events team and the Official Medical Provider for the 3M Half Marathon,” said Adam Bauman, vice president of business development at Ascension Seton. “We are proud to support and care for the vibrant running community in the city of Austin and beyond.”

As the Official Medical Provider, Ascension Seton doctors and nurses will staff the finish line medical tent and work with Travis County EMS on course. They will have a presence at the two-day expo. Ascension Seton is part of the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

“Participant safety is paramount at every event we produce,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “We know that the thousands of 3M Half Marathon participants will be in good hands with the Ascension Seton doctors and nurses should they be needed.”

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country. It will celebrate its 25th year running in 2019. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course with mostly downhill running that showcases some of Austin’s finest locations. Starting in north Austin and finishing near the Texas State Capitol, runners will appreciate a 306’ net elevation drop. Registration is currently open for all options.