Run, pace, marshal and cheer Hackney

It was an early start for a lot of GoodGymers this Sunday as we prepared to Run Hackney. While the 100+ runners were chowing down on bagels, bananas and coffee to fuel their bodies for the 13.1 miles that lay ahead, scores more were out on the course ensuring the event would run smoothly.

Before 7am Southwark legend Beth was at the race village adding 'gazebo installer', 'merchandise organiser' and 'suncream distributer' to her already impressive list of skills. Nice one Beth!

It was HOTTER THAN IBIZA this weekend so conditions were going to be tough. Out on the course the GoodGym marshals were reporting for duty. Camden regular Axel took a break from smashing personal bests to help direct runners near the start. He saw some heroics from James:

I saw James running at Mile 0.3 without his pacing 2:30 flag then saw him running back facing thousand of runners to find it! Then he appeared again with the flag in his hand but lost the stick to get the flag so run back again to find it. When I saw him at mile 13 he was holding the stick and flag in his hand! What a hero!

Recent 100 club member Andy was helping out at mile 6, right in the middle of the action:

Our group of volunteers met hella early on Mare St, picked up our walkie talkies and hi viz, and headed out to our stations. After an hour or so the crowds started gathering and the sun started doing its thing. The lead runners came flying through, chased by a smurf, the tellytubbies, a host of flag-bearing GoodGym pace runners, and a whole lot of GoodGym #RedThunder. At mile 6, everyone was still looking fresh and in good spirits. No drama to report – just a really lovely day :) Well done all!

Hassan was over in the mysterious ‘sector D’ towards the end of the course. He too had some love for the pacing team:

The goodGym pacers did a terrific job. When Simon came whizzing by he had the biggest smile on his face and seemed to be laughing quite a lot at something. I remember thinking how can someone run so fast, whilst carrying a pacing rucksack and flag and laugh like that at the same time! When Danica flew by pacing her time slot, she even had the time to half turn around and say hi to me! Likewise, later on when I saw James and Pritesh pacing, they too were smiling. Managed to hi 5 Pritesh as he passed. There seemed to be a lot of runners right behind all the pacers, so very well done to you all

So what's it like to be a GoodGym pacer? 2:30 pacer Pritesh was guiding a load of first time half marathoners around the streets:

Run Hackney 2016 Done! Paced 2h 30 with the awesome James Barnard in 27C heat. Met some amazing people along the way - runners, marshals and the amazing people of Hackney who cheered, watered and fed those brave runners! This was my first half marathon pacing but it was such a joy - you can't beat the feeling when someone thanks you for helping them through, particularly in the conditions we had. Special mention to the Run Hackney organisers and, of course, to GoodGym who gave me the opportunity and provided all the pacers and the majority of race marshals! What a day! #runhackney #Hackney #2h30 #pacer#goodgym #iranthistown #partypacers#GGxHackney #halfmarathon #ukrunchat#pacers #pacing #run #instarun

A special final shout needs to go out to all the marshals who helped some of the struggling runners in the later stages of the race. Some GoodGymers had to wait over an hour with runners for medical attention to arrive. Massive respect for making sure everyone was safe!

Want to be involved in the GG race team's next adventure? Join us in Cardiff in October