In 2018, a runner named John Henwood contacted me out of the blue asking if I’d like to be a professional pacer for the Mile High Run Club. He had found me through my connection with the New York Road Runners Club as a volunteer pacer. I had paced three New York City Marathons and a bunch of half marathons for them, so he knew I had the skills for this job. I started working for John right away by leading paced group runs for those who were training for the 2018 NYC Marathon.

Pacing was a part-time gig consisting of about 32 Saturday mornings a year (16 for the Brooklyn Half training program and 16 for the NYC Marathon training program). I instantly fell in love with the job. As a runner for most of my life, I have achieved everything that I needed through the sport of running at that point. I was now at the stage where I got great pleasure out of helping others by preparing them for the world’s greatest marathon. Week after week, I would lead a group of young runners for long runs along various routes throughout Manhattan while we spent our time engaged in fun and casual banter. I thought that I could do this job for the rest of my life and looked forward to doing it every year until I was 80 years old. Boy, was I wrong!

It is now 2024. Of the six years of pacing for Mile High and 42 years of running, the combination of running and aging has ravaged my body. Like an old car that still barely works, I can no longer hold my pace without pushing my body to its physical limits. What was once an enjoyable challenge has devolved into a painful chore. I know that I must now transition out of this job for my own health and safety.

Now that the 2024 marathon training season is over, I can spend my time recovering and reflecting on all of the great memories that I had helping many runners achieve their marathon dreams.

I want to thank my fellow pacers from Mile High who were constant role models for me, especially during times when it was getting harder for me to do my job within the last two years. Some of them gladly switched with me when I had to move to a slower pace group on more than one occasion. They are Philippe Day, Jacky Lee, Arielle Disick, Carol Buonanno, Rhonda Braun, and Anne Szustek Talbot. I’d like to give a special shout-out to Dominic Davis, our experienced pace captain with vast running knowledge who always greeted us with a big encouraging smile each week.

I also want to thank all of the runners who joined my weekly pace group through the years. I had a lot of fun running with all of you. While you may have great memories of completing the NYC Marathon, I will have great memories of helping you along your journey.