tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post1599516203530445779..comments2018-04-09T00:54:59.890-07:00Comments on View from the Back of the Pack: What Elite (and Faster) Runners Miss By Not Being a Back of the Packer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-46687052412213606442013-10-21T19:53:47.262-07:002013-10-21T19:53:47.262-07:00I love your posts! Just stumbled upon this blog af...I love your posts! Just stumbled upon this blog after you shared on the River Runners fb page. As a fellow, "back of the packer," thanks! It's so nice to swap stories with others in the same boat. I just finished the Hershey Half and actually blew my own mind with how fast I ran (not that it was fast, mind you, but elite standards and I was also clearly in the back of the pack, but I was happy with it!:) The first 5 miles flew by and I felt fabulous, running alongside my daughter and favorite running buddy, at a 11 min/mile pace. She kept telling me to slow down before I wore myself out..haha!:) I absolutely loved my first half and am still riding my runner's high (albeit saddened by the news of the death of a fellow runner during the race). Anyway...I would love to hear more about the Pittsburgh half. I'm seriously considering doing it next year! I'm itching to sign up for another half already!! Was it a good course? Looks quite scary at the 11 mile mark...can you say "giant hill"??? And you didn't get lost at the back of the pack? My biggest fear is always that they'll start taking down barriers and I'll get lost and not finish...<br />But, yeah...I'm completely hooked now. Hoping to do many, many more races...most likely always at the back of the pack!!! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835727747062214404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-50625493729148238782013-05-21T12:39:08.666-07:002013-05-21T12:39:08.666-07:00Nicole--has he ever considered running with you fo...Nicole--has he ever considered running with you for "fun?"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-17243007113730325552013-05-21T11:41:39.459-07:002013-05-21T11:41:39.459-07:00Back of the pack is the best! When we got done wit...Back of the pack is the best! When we got done with the Solstice Run in Alaska I asked my (fast) boyfriend what he thought of the huge dandelions, and the bullet shells on the ground, the spectator signs, and how many moose he saw, and all the other cool things that were along the course. He hadn't noticed any of it. When I showed him my picture of me with Mt. McKinley in the background I got, "Oh, I didn't realize you could even see Mt. McKinley." These are the little experiences that I run for, and it would be sad to miss them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16666514299716410370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-11202043204610482962013-05-08T04:03:49.722-07:002013-05-08T04:03:49.722-07:00Ha, Marie! You are right. It's probably not ...Ha, Marie! You are right. It's probably not fair of me to say we're having more fun since I've not run in the front or middle either!! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-24548811247840509992013-05-07T16:26:13.671-07:002013-05-07T16:26:13.671-07:00Back of the Pack definitely has more fun! Or so I...Back of the Pack definitely has more fun! Or so I assume since I've never run even in the middle of the pack let alone the front so I can't compare. I really enjoyed the half where I took pics and texted along the way....looks like you did too. We are running them for fun after all!Marie Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416460409913747965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-62967171134673666462013-05-06T10:05:25.225-07:002013-05-06T10:05:25.225-07:00The physical therapist/elite runner I referenced a...The physical therapist/elite runner I referenced at the beginning said that she doesn't really pay attention to anything except the race itself. She also said she has thought about doing a race from the BofP just to have fun. Who knows? Maybe one day, everyone will want to be with us!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-8275052749470893472013-05-06T09:50:05.104-07:002013-05-06T09:50:05.104-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-10780833925129526382013-05-06T09:35:31.529-07:002013-05-06T09:35:31.529-07:00The "Elite Athlete Fluid" sign made me l...The "Elite Athlete Fluid" sign made me laugh :) I am a BotP at even 5Ks, and it always looks like we're definitely having more fun than the runners at the front wearing their game faces. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08787848462710742004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-80681307372099412632013-05-06T07:52:52.190-07:002013-05-06T07:52:52.190-07:00I have just started taking pictures during the rac...I have just started taking pictures during the races. Even though I do stop, it's fairly briefly because I do try to be polite to the other runners around me and not stop directly in front of them or block traffic. So, that does mean I end up weaving quite a bit. But, I've found that by doing that, I enjoy the race SO much more and I even run better because I'm so relaxed. I figure by running to enjoy, I may lose about five minutes, but in the end--does five minutes really matter? It's the same medal whether I finish five minute faster or not. I will try to train to PR one of these days, but in the meantime, I have enjoyed these "fun" races so much more. I can't wait to do my next big half to take pictures of the motivational signs and interesting people along the way. I'm even thinking of adding a race just for that purpose!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-28852378518715808102013-05-06T07:32:56.241-07:002013-05-06T07:32:56.241-07:00I still can't believe you stop and take pictur...I still can't believe you stop and take pictures! I need to stop focusing so much on racing and start enjoying the view! As for the steel barriers- I'm pretty sure they are always there for the Philly Half. I know that spectators are blocked until just past the starting line. And yes, a slow walk as a back-of-the-packer to get to the starting line! <br />Peteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452512207504157731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-68499676581671010182013-05-06T04:19:12.243-07:002013-05-06T04:19:12.243-07:00Sure, Mary! San Diego must be HUGE! The largest ...Sure, Mary! San Diego must be HUGE! The largest races I've ever competed in had 20-30K runners and I think I've always gotten to the start within 30 minutes of the start (always from the last corral!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-9826565402900516232013-05-06T04:17:52.737-07:002013-05-06T04:17:52.737-07:00Thanks, Amy! This is now tied for my top two favo...Thanks, Amy! This is now tied for my top two favorite races! NYC, then Richmond and Pittsburgh. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513603612597035448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-12395875762580542112013-05-05T19:26:09.301-07:002013-05-05T19:26:09.301-07:00Only 23 minutes after the official start? For the...Only 23 minutes after the official start? For the 2012 San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon/Half Marathon, I crossed the start 1 hour and 5 minutes after the official one. Now THAT'S the back of the pack! I wondered how the events at Boston were going to affect later runs. I figured they'd check the packs and hold the spectators back but I didn't expect them to limit what runners could carry. Congrats on your finish and thanks for the photos!Mary A Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08621414825323086139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3348368913726802759.post-34092387529767949902013-05-05T18:27:31.384-07:002013-05-05T18:27:31.384-07:00Loved the post! Looks like you had a great race an...Loved the post! Looks like you had a great race and lots of fun! Amy Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08641942023749566964noreply@blogger.com