Each year, as many as a dozen volunteers line up at the Saskatchewan Marathon to help other runners achieve their goals.
The pace bunnies are instantly recognizable in the starting corrals because of their large signs, paper bunny ears and infectious enthusiasm. Running alongside a pace bunny means you can follow someone who maintains a steady, pre-determined pace for the whole race — all while acting as your personal cheerleader.
This week, the Brainsport Times speaks with some current and former pace bunnies about what they love about the job.
David Samuel (marathon; 3:30)
Samuel has paced the marathon three times before; but 2023 marks his fastest pacing job yet.
Why he loves it: “It is a tangible way to run a marathon and also make the most benevolent use of that energy. It’s the philosophy-equivalent of Judo, in marathoning.”
The best part: “The first time I did it, (at the) 2007 Mississauga Marathon, a 55-year-old woman needed to hit 4:15 to BQ (qualify for the Boston Marathon). She had zero belief that she would make it. The moment she saw the finish line, with 4:13 showing, and (knowing) that she was clearly going to BQ, was one of the most synergistic events I’ve ever experienced.”
What people need to know: “It’s really hard to pace a marathon perfectly! It’s like taming and petting a hurricane.”
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Andrew Giassa (half marathon; 1:45)
Giassa is excited to be back on pacing duties after trying out the pace bunny gig for the first time at the Saskatchewan Marathon last year, when he was the two-hour bunny for the half marathon. Outside of pacing, he’s training for a both a full and half marathon later this year.
Why he loves it: “I have run with pace bunnies in the past, which has helped me achieve PBs! I felt like this was an excellent opportunity to give back to the running community by helping others achieve their own PBs!”
The best part: “It was incredibly fun to meet so many new people while running the half marathon and share running stories! I found it so rewarding to be able to see so many people who ran with me conquer the sub-two-hour half marathon! I had a few people come up to me after the race and thank me for achieving their goals, hearing that just felt so great!”
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Joyleen Podgursky (10km; 1:00)
Podgursky is back as a pace bunny after pacing the five-kilometre event at the Saskatchewan Marathon last year.
Why she does it: “I saw the request for a 5km pace bunny on Saskatoon’s Facebook Running Group so I figured since I like running and I like people it would be a good fit…. and it was! I met some lovely people, including a family who’s youngest daughter wanted to follow me so that she could accomplish her best time … and she sure did … she beat me! Dave (Stark, the Saskatchewan Marathon “pace bunny wrangler”) snapped this picture of us at the start line. Perhaps I will see her again at the upcoming Saskatchewan Marathon.”
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Tyrell Bjarnason (former pace bunny)
Bjarnason made his pace bunny debut at last year’s Saskatchewan Marathon, pacing the one-hour 10km. He regrets he isn’t able to volunteer again this year because of an injury.
Why he loves it: “I had been wanting to volunteer as a pace bunny for years. I finally had an opportunity as I was not in race shape last year. What I can say about the experience is how motivating it was to help others reach their goals. It felt weird to show up at the race and not be stressed out. There are always milestones people are trying to accomplish. The one-hour 10km is one of them. I was giving advice to the running pack, making sure we didn’t start off too fast, (and talking about) drafting technics and cadence for hills.
“I have helped out with other races in the past, but always a helping body and not a pace bunny. I used to be part of a non-profit organization. I know how much work is involved to organizing an event. Since I have competed in many races, I felt it was my time to help give back to the community with an event I enjoy.”
The best part: “I had to train to keep that pace consistent and I wanted to make sure I did my best for the people I was helping. My chip time was 1:00:14 and (gun time) was 1:00:32. I was very pleased that I did my best for my followers. I caught one fellow with 500 meters left and he said to me ‘I thought you were going too slow so I took off, and here you are, right on pace, I should have stayed with you.’ ”
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Saskatchewan Marathon “pace bunny wrangler” Dave Stark is still looking for someone to pace a 30-minute five-kilometre race. To volunteer, reach out to him by email at d.stark@sasktel.net.
