NYRR Pace Team: Elaine Acosta

What’s your favorite part about being an NYRR Pace Team member?
The camaraderie. There's a core group of us who have been pacing together for 10+ years and have become great friends. We make everything fun, from working the expos to waiting hours in the pace tent before the New York City Marathon. We all share the joy of pacing and giving back to the running community.

How many TCS New York City Marathons have you paced?
More then 10 TCS New York City Marathons.

Do you have a great story of pacing a runner(s) and helping them achieve their goal?
An email from a runner that said "I just wanted to THANK YOU for being a wonderful pacer! You were a huge part of my 1st marathon experience. I ran faster than any of my training runs, despite the winds, and I never would have made it in, especially the last few miles which were really difficult for me. I have no doubt I would have finished in a slower time if I hadn't been running w/ you guys. running the NYC marathon was a dream come true for me! It was an exciting & overwhelming experience & it made a world of difference to have people to run with. Thank you for pushing me the last few miles & for the big hug at the finish line! "

What’s a misconception people have about being a pacer?
Pacers are only for really fast runners. Wrong – there are pace times for almost every level!

What’s the hardest thing about being a pacer?
Runners telling you you're going too fast or too slow. Just trust us :) When I pace, I call out my splits every mile and announce how many seconds we are ahead or behind, hoping this gives them more confidence in us. I also start off with, "I'm your Garmin (or Coros or whatever watch you wear)! Just follow me and I'll get you to the finish line!"