Throughout 2025, this newsletter has been featuring stories from our local runners, many who are PaceSetters members. We would love to hear from you and write up a story that our readers would enjoy. It could be about an accomplishment that you are proud of, such as completing a difficult race, a destination event, reaching a new PR, a lifetime achievement, or a special run that has taken residence in your heart. It could be recent or from years ago. Or maybe you have some cool information you would like to share about training, fueling, attire, gear, or ?? .... whether you know about this topic, or you don't but would like us to research it for you. This is not something you need to write, just contact us here so we can discuss a bit and we will take care of the rest. Thanks!!

Something pretty special has happened in Green Bay WI within the last decade. The now very established and respected On Pace Race pacing team came unexpectedly out of nowhere just 8 short years ago. Many of you surely are familiar with these pacers, the ones running with the various pacer sticks, supporting participants along the way. Here is the story for how that happened and what this group is all about.

Carrie and Paul Miller had been avid runners. Carrie was busy coaching the girls tennis team at St. Norbert College as well as coaching runners. Paul was busy in marketing production. In 2017, Carrie was approached by her hometown marathon, the Cellcom Marathon, asking if she could help them by producing a pacing team for their event. Before immediately committing, they wondered whether this was something they should do. They lacked the specific experience for this kind of thing, but yet with their backgrounds it seemed like they could figure out how to do it. However Carrie was pregnant with their 5th child and they thought maybe it was time to pull back from more obligations. Still, something was telling them that this could become their calling. 

Without knowing the details of how to do this, they said yes. That 2017 Cellcom event turned into a local community effort. They knew the race directors and organizers and worked together along with some local sponsors to make this happen. It exceeded everyone's expectations, which was amazing given this was their first time experience.

And word gets around. There were enough positive comments coming out from that event to generate inquiries from the Fox Cities and Wausau Marathons later that year. They saw what Carrie and Paul did and wanted their services for their events.

Then came 2018. There was a series of women-only half marathons that took them beyond 920, to Delavan, Cape Cod, Amelia Island FL, and Lost Pines TX. At this point, On Pace was committed to operating their teams at a high level of excellence. They worked closely with race directors to know what they wanted, what had been missing in their previous races, and getting feedback for the participants. Their goal was to achieve a gold standard of excellence at every event. Even beyond their primary role of pacing, they wanted to see the event be successful and know that the participants were pleased with their overall experience.

Paul credits Carrie's skill sets and abilities for creating the team and processes they have now. Although their main role is properly raising their now 7 kids, Carrie has a Masters in Business Administration, which has helped her in detail management among other things such as successfully acquiring sponsorships to help cover some of their costs. She also took the lead in a software technology tool which has been a key driver of their organization.

On Pace has done races with less than 1,000 runners to support, but also larger ones such as Detroit, which is what they were returning home from this past October when I talked with them about their operation. That event required 85 pacers across 3 different race groups. That's a lot of helpers, and a lot to coordinate.

One question I had for On Pace was where do they find enough pacers to do these remote events. Some experienced familiar pacers will travel from this area but they need to tap into a more local pool as well. One weekend On Pace was in 4 different states over the same weekend. To assure that they are getting qualified pacers for their events, there is a detailed vetting process that happens. Each pacer must complete an application, and show proof of completing 10 marathons (or half marathons for that event), and 4 within a recent timeframe. By that point, that candidate has figured out how to run in different weather, on different course terrains, how to properly prepare, how to fuel during the race, etc. If they have completed a full recently in 3:50 - 4:00, they will be asked to pace a slower group, say 4:30, and be paired with an experienced pacer to start off. These runners tend to be A+ personality types, which are very analytical goal-minded people. On Pace also requires their pacers to realize this is more than just running with a stick. They create these sub communities within the race, and it is important to be there encouraging the participants around you during their journey to the finish line.

After the race is completed, On Pace runs analytic reports. Every pacer gets graded. If they finish within 1 minute of their goal they get 5 stars. At the Detroit Marathon a perfect 100% scored 5 stars. Overall, they boast a stellar 92% average score.

On Pace has created enough recommendations that they don't need to be out making sales calls. It is enviable that they can now cherry pick which events they want to do. They want to assure that they can properly support the race to their established gold level, and will say no if it just doesn't fit. Every race that they do complete makes the next one easier, by learning the logistics of that event, getting to know the race organizers better, and seeing what their pacers did. They have done races in Alaska and Hawaii that previously had no pacers. Now many of their races have a waiting list "bench" of pacers ready to participate when called upon. They have reached a staggering 1,500 pacers supporting 300,000 runners! Just how does that happen? Many of their pacers have become older and are past their PR days. This gives them another reason for continuing to race. Many are at a stage of their life where they can get away, and they have more disposable income and time for travelling.

So what do the pacers get? As Paul said, "They get 2 payables. Number 1, a comped race entry, and number 2, free sweaty hugs." Being out on the course for several hours with runners going through all kinds of emotions, wondering if they can finish, and if they can achieve their goal, after many months of training, creates incredible emotional connections. They start off as complete strangers but at the end you become memorable enough that they will never forget you.

PaceSetters Terra and Chad Otis are On Pace pacers and had these comments to share, "What we enjoy about pacing is seeing the joy of others accomplishing goals that they worked hard for, knowing that we're taking stress away from them. Just jump in with an On Pace pacer and we will get you to your goal. Many times it's not about the runners you start with but the ones falling back and walking that we inspire to not give up."

It's not hard to train for a marathon.

It's hard to do everything else when you're training for a marathon.

1)  GIRLS CAN DO IT - Tara Dower, a 31 year old from Virginia, recorded the fastest time for completing the Appalachian Trail. Covering nearly 2,200 rugged miles from Maine to Georgia, passing through 14 states, she was able to finish in 40 days, 18 hours and 5 minutes, ascending 465,000 feet along the way. That's 88 miles of climbing, and an astonishing average of 54 miles per day, fueled by sheer determination, short meals and quick "dirt naps" lasting barely 90 seconds. 

Tara's journey was not just about speed, it was about proving what's possible. She dedicated this to Girls on the Run, hoping "more women get out there ... finding our true potential. Endurance isn't just a measure of distance, but of heart, grit, and daily choices."

2)  YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD - 80 year old Bob Becker, now residing in Florida, became the oldest man to ever complete the Badwater Ultramarathon. Billed as the world's toughest footrace, it starts in Death Valley, CA, the lowest point in North America, and then ascends over 14,000 feet across 3 mountain ranges for 135 miles. The race starts at 8 pm. Bob was able to run through the first night ok, then the sunshine gave him energy to keep going the following day, but the second night was more challenging. "Your body clock gets a little thrown off. I needed to get some sleep, and I was able to take a 50 minute break, and then later in the night another 20 minute break."

Bob completed the race the following afternoon after 45 hours. Oh and one more thing, this race happens in July when it tends to be a bit warm. At the start of the race the temperature was 118 degrees. So no complaining when it's 80 degrees at your next race.