Pace team encourages marathoners

  • Published
  • By Rachel Castle
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  It takes encouragement and a little coaxing to get most people to run for hours and miles on end, but members of the Air Force Marathon Pace Team are vocal supporters for people who endure the annual run at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Pace team members run the race while holding a huge time sign in one arm, yelling words of encouragement to the members in their group, and some won't cross the finish line until every member of the team crosses first.

They will be here again in Sept. 15, calling out encouragement and prodding on their runners.

His name is and he's a cheerleader of sorts. Not the kind one sees at a basketball or football game, but rather, the kind who runs marathons and helps others to cross the finish line, cheering them on for the entire 26.2 miles.

"If you wanted to run 26.2 miles alone you could have just walked out your front door and started running," said Jim Crist, a pace team member. "When you're with a pace group, you're running with a team and have lots of teammates to support you in your effort. I pace to help the other runners achieve their goals, whether it's to finish their first marathon or qualify for Boston."

Anyone interested in running with a pace team can stop by the booth at the Sports and Fitness Exposition Center at the Nutter Center here Sept. 13 or 14. Pace teams are available for both the full- and half-marathon races Sept. 15 at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Pace teams for the full marathon will lead times for 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45 and 5:00. Lead times for the half marathon will be 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20 and 2:30. There is no extra cost to run with a pace team. 

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