Pacers at VLM 2012

Does anyone know what the 9 minute pacer finished in who started in pen 5 on the blue start?  Think he was called Andy?  I lost him about 20 miles (ish) can' really remember.  His mile splits were a bit quicker than 9 minutes & think that's why I struggled with the last 10k.

Managed to finish in 3.59.21 but legs buckled just before the finish line and had to be helped across - it was agony!

Sphinx wrote (see)

Hilden Bro - Did you manage your sub-4? You and I were both following the 9-min/mile pacer for a few miles, and then I ran into you again some time after we'd both lost track of him (I was the girl in the white t-shirt with red pattern and dark hair in a ponytail). I never saw the pacer again after that. I take it you didn't either? Anyway I managed my sub-4 all the same (3:57:58) so I was really happy. Relied on my trusty Garmin to pace me instead!

Great to hear from you and am really pleased you got sub 4.   

Did you have a black Nathan belt bag?  And/or a Scottish accent?!!!  If you're who I think you are, I think we had the briefest of chats when we crossed paths after losing him: I think you clocked I was flagging and said something empathetic like "It's tough going now".  I think I grunted in reply!  I did think about trying to stay with you but just didn't have it in me and finished at 4:01:02.  I'm really chuffed though because my second half was only a minute slower than the half and I felt like death.  I had a post-finish wobble but not as dramatic as yours sounds!  I take my (white running) hat off to you to have found the strength to push on because you must have got some really decent second half splits.

Will message you, off-thread!

[EDIT: Don't think I can message you for some reason!]

Johnny Blaze wrote (see)

I didn't see a pacer all day. How do they line up when it can take 10 minutes to get over the start? And did each zone have its own. Don't now how it works to be honest.

The RW pacers were at the back of pre-determined Pens.

eg. 9 min/mile in Pen 5.

Justin's gang from the start included me and some  of the others I clocked were Brian (from Hendon!), Tony, Louisa and Lord Rickus.

 I think Sphinx (above) came from a Pen further back.

Hilden Bro - Yeah that was me! Scottish with the Nathan waistpack - well remembered! Anyway, glad to hear you finished in around the four hour mark too.  That was Naughty Girl who had the spectacular finish though, not me.  I crossed the line looking pretty awful (judging by the photos...) but managed to remain upright, thank goodness.

 JB is right - I only caught up with the pacer later on in the race (around mile 8) because I started in pen 7 on the blue start.  I was totally amazed to have caught up with a 9 min/mile pace group because I had no idea I would manage a sub-4. 

Anyway, it was fun to follow the pacer for a while, but wow it was hard to keep track of him in amongst all of those crowds!  In the end it was defintely easier just to keep to my own pace, rather than constantly trying to weave in an out of people, in an effort to keep him in sight.