Pace Team

For information on becoming a Pacer,

please contact Vickie Chu-Hermis at ripetzel@aol.com

Running a marathon is hard...if it's your 1st marathon or your 40th marathon, it's hard. Our experienced Pace Leaders support all runners, from beginner to hardcore. Hook up with our experienced Pace Leaders and get out there and achieve your goals!

Join the In-Shape Pace Team!

 

Create your own marathon pace wrist band  

One of the keys to achieving your best marathon time is to keep an even pace throughout the race. Go out too fast and you'll hit the wall, go out too slow and you won't be able to make up the time later (but you may feel more rested at the end). Determine the pace that you believe you can honestly achieve and stick to it.

Use these wristbands to guide you through those miles (or kilometers) when your mind can't do the math anymore (or you want to save your concentration for your race). Of course you may need to modify these numbers to take account of the local terrain - but these pace bands will help you along.

 

MEET OUR 2012 PACE TEAM LEADERS: 

 

3:05 PACE TEAM LEADER: Steve Andrews

Hometown: Davis, CA

Marathon PR: 2:48 at the 2010 Boston Mararthon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 7

Favorite marathon: CIM

Favorite marathon memory: My goal for my first marathon (CIM 2006) was to run under 3 hours. I crossed the line in 2:59:59, after a sprint down the homestretch, and I got a lot of cheers from the crowd for just making it. It was awesome!

Other hobbies: Ultimate frisbee, hiking, reading & doing math (I'm an engineer).  The event that you're most proud of: I had a pretty good race in Boston last Spring. I think I'm most proud of that.

Other pacing experiences: This is my first one. I'm really excited about it.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: Some of my running friends used to call me "Steady Steve" because of my near constant pace for long races & workouts. Run with the 3:15 group & be prepared for a steady pace, lots of encouragement, & maybe a PR!

A saying/quotation that you like: Run happy.

 

3:10 PACE TEAM LEADER: Joseph Angulo

Hometown: Fresno, CA

Marathon PR: 2:28:47 at the 1997 Guadalajara, Mexico Marathon

How many marathons have you run: 60 marathons

Favorite marathon: Fresno

Favorite marathon memory: CIM 2001, The storm La Nina, made it a rainy & cold marathon. I was waiting in the bus all the way to the back & decided to not run. I was suffering from sciatica & it was way too cold, windy & rainy to do anything good. Three minutes before the gun shot, I thought to myself, "Whatta hell! Embrace the pain", so I ran through the crowd. They opened up for me as I was making my way to the front. Another guy from Fresno & I ran together for 20 miles at a 2:37 pace but the rain & the wind didn't help. I ended up doing 2:45:31 but I felt great for my efforts.

Other hobbies: Sky Diving

Other pacing experiences: The 2011 Fresno Marathon pacing the 3:10 group with absolutely no training after having back surgery a few months before.

The event that you're most proud of: Pacing a group of Elite women to qualify for the Olympic trials.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: DO NOT get desperate, be patient. The will to achieve is nothing without the will to train.

A saying/quotation that you like: "Embrace the Pain".

 

3:15 PACE TEAM LEADER: Peter Kelleher

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Marathon PR: 3:01:35 at the 2009 Portland Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 19 Marathons, 2 Ultras

Favorite marathon: Portland Marathon

Favorite marathon memory: The 2007 Boston Marathon was my most memorable marathon because of the extreme weather. We ran in rain, snow, hail, fog & wind. A really strong northeastern storm hit Boston that entire week leading up to the marathon so it was very mental preparing for this race. I ran the race without feeling my legs most of the event. I finished just under my goal but enjoyed every minute of that day!

Other hobbies: Cycling, hiking.

Other pacing experiences: CIM 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Modesto 2011

A saying/quotation that you like: "Fatigue makes cowards of us all.", Vince Lombardi

 

3:25 PACE TEAM LEADER: Jesi Vasquez

Hometown: San Jose, CA

Marathon PR: 3:07:00 at the 2011 CIM

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 4 half, 6 full & 1 ultra.

Favorite marathon: Portland

Other hobbies: Triathlons

The event that you're most proud of: Portland

Other pacing experiences: Morgan Hill (3:15 group)

3:30 PACE TEAM LEADER: Nile Sousa

Hometown: Modesto, CA

Marathon PR: 3:11 at the 2010 Modesto Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: Too many to count.

Favorite marathon memory: Earning 2nd in my age group at the 2010 Modesto Marathon.

Favorite marathon: Avenue of the Giants. It was beautiful!

Other hobbies: Just running! Who has time for anything other?

The event that you're most proud of: I can't just name one. A few events I'm most proud of include my first 100 mile race at Rio Del Lago, Double Dipsea, Hernia Hill & Indian Gulch races.

Other pacing experiences: I've trained & paced a runner to their first marathon in just 44 days. I've also paced ultra runners on training runs.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: Stay hydrated! Let my positive attitude keep you on pace.

A saying/quotation that you like: Our positive attitudes & determination will get you to the finish line at 3:35.

 

3:35 PACE TEAM LEADER: Mike Hess

Hometown: Grew up in Kingsburg, CA, and live in Fresno, CA

Marathon PR: 3:07 at the 2010 Napa Valley Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 18

Favorite marathon: Big Sur is the most scenic marathon I have ever done.

Favorite marathon memory: The first time my family came out to watch me run a marathon.

Other hobbies: Tennis, travelling & reading.

The event that you're most proud of: Finishing the Great Wall Marathon. Still my slowest marathon to date: 5 hours 14 minutes. The 22nd mile took me 52 minutes.

Other pacing experiences: Fresno Marathon three times. Modesto Marathon once.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: I plan on running even mile splits. Start off a little slower for the first few miles, then gradually increase your pace. It's going to be a great day to run!

A saying/quotation that you like: Running is 90% mental & the rest is in your head.

 

3:40 PACE TEAM LEADER: Mark Puntanilla

Hometown: San Jose, Ca

Marathon PR: 3:10:31 at the 2009 Santa Clarita Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 53 marathons/1 ultra

Favorite marathon: Boston Marathon Favorite marathon memory: Quantifying for Boston at the Long Beach International Marathon. 

Other hobbies: Snowboarding, basketball, and mountain biking.

The event that you're most proud of: Finishing the Boston Marathon.

Other pacing experiences:

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: Don't forget to taper, see you at the start.

A saying/quotation that you like: Pain is temporary, finishing a marathon is forever!

 

3:45 PACE TEAM LEADER: Chris Rosario

Hometown: Cerritos, CA

Marathon PR: 3:18 at the 2010 Fresno Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 19 Marathons, 2 Ultras, 1 Ironman (there's a marathon somewhere in that triathlon, I think. That race was a 12 hour blur.)

Favorite Marathon: I think I liked all of my marathons in different ways. I'll just say, there isn't one I did not like.

Favorite marathon memory: You can never forget your first marathon. Mine was the 2003 Chicago marathon. The anticipation of finally answering the months of training on whether you will complete a marathon is put to the test once you cross that finish line.

Other hobbies: Swimming, cycling, science stuff (I'm a microbiologist).

The event that you're most proud of: Running the 2005 Toronto marathon. I helped train a couple of friends for their first marathon. It was an awesome feeling to see your friends finish a marathon.

Other pacing experiences: 2010 OC marathon (3:40 group), 2012 Surf City marathon (3:35 group).

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: I'll run a little slow on the uphill & bank time on the downhills. But considering that the course profile looks rather flat, we'll try & keep a steady pace! I'll speed through water stations so it'll give you space to get water.

A saying/quotation that you like: Newton's first law of motion: "A body in motion will stay in motion unless acted by an outside force".

3:55 PACE TEAM LEADER: Linh Nguyen

Hometown: Cupertino, CA

Marathon PR: 3:35 at the 2010 Silicon Valley Marathon

How many marathons have you run: 20+ Marathons

Favorite Marathon: San Francisco Marathon

Favorite marathon memory: Running a 20 minute PR at the Silicon Valley Marathon, coming back from almost 2 years of multiple injuries.

Other hobbies: Playing the guitar, singing & scuba diving.

The event that you're most proud of: Pacing a teacher in for a sub 4:00 as her Boston Qualifier after she had missed out registering the recent Boston registration due to the fact that it got sold out in 8 hours, & she had to re-qualify. She almost gave up in the last few miles until I kept encouraging her that she could do it & made last minute sprint the last 0.5 miles. Recently she recognized me at another race & told me I made a real difference helping her achieving her goal with that race, that was really satisfying to hear that I made a positive difference giving back to others.

Other pacing experiences: SFM 2011 (Full 4:00), SFM 2010 (2nd Half 2:30), MHM 2011 (Half 1:50), Inaugural Morgan Hill Marathon (Full 4:00)

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: Relax & let your pacer run with it!

A saying/quotation that you like: "Everyone has or will walk during a marathon sooner or later, the only difference is wheather it's planned or not".

 

4:00 PACE TEAM LEADER: Roni Kornitz

Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA

Marathon PR: 3:33:48 at the 2008 CIM

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 49 marathons & 2 50k's

Favorite marathon: CIM (set my PR there), Big Sur (best view) & San Francisco (running the Golden Gate bridge).

Favorite marathon memory: Passing the finish line...& each new PR. Pacing for the first time - all the thankful runners at the finish line.

Other hobbies: SCUBA diving, motorcycle riding.

The event that you're most proud of: The Relay - a team of 12 running 200 miles from Calistoga to Santa Cruz. I'm the captain of the Runners Anonymous team for The Relay since 2005.

Other pacing experiences: I've paced 8 marathons including the San Francisco Marathon, Oakland Marathon, Fresno Two Cities Marathon & the Modesto Marathon.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: We'll be running constant effort & slow down at all aid stations.

A saying/quotation that you like: "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot & missed. I've failed over & over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.", Michael Jordan

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.", Charles Darwin

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.", General George S. Patton

4:10 PACE TEAM LEADER: Ginger Perng

Hometown: Grew up in Atlanta, GA, now live in Sunnyvale, CA

Marathon PR: 3:52 at the 2011 San Francisco Marathon

How many marathons have you run: 3

Favorite marathon: San Francisco Marathon

Favorite race memory: Pacing my friend to her under 2 hour half marathon finish at the NYC half marathon in 2010. Also, running through Time Square was pretty amazing as well!

Other hobbies: Snowboarding, yoga, cooking (& eating), & watching really cheesy romantic comedies!

Event that you're most proud of: Finishing SFM with an over 30 minute PR!

Other pacing experiences: 2011 Morgan Hill Half Marathon (2:15)

Any tips for runners about to join your group: Have fun & don't forget to fuel!

Favorite saying/quotation that you like: "No one ever drowned in sweat".

 

4:25 PACE TEAM LEADER: Hanoch Raviv

Hometown: Cupertino, CA

Marathon PR: 3:41 made 3 times at CIM, Napa & the Silicon Valley Marathon.

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 32 marathons, 3 50k's & 1 triathlon

Favorite marathon: Napa

Favortie marathon memory: Have great memories from any of my 25 marathons. That is why I keep doing it.

Other hobbies: Road biking, swimming, Israeli folk dancing, listening to audio books & computer security.

The event that you're most proud of: My first marathon - July, 2006.

Other pacing experiences: Started pacing in 2010 & already completed 3 x pacing at Oakland (4:30), SF (4:00) & Morgan Hill (4:00).

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: My target as a pacer is to run in a predictable pace so my group will be able to follow my pace & finish in a predictable time or faster. My track record as a marathon pacer shows a +/- 30 sec. I encourage first timers & experienced runners throughout the race.

A saying/quotation that you like: Running is fun & healthy.

 

4:40 PACE TEAM LEADER: Vickie Chu-Hermis

Hometown: Modesto, CA

Marathon PR: 4:13 at the 2011 Nike Women's Marathon

How many marathons/ultras have you run: 41 marathons, 10-50k's, 4-50 milers, 1-100k, 1-100 miler & 1 Ironman

Favorite marathon: Nike Women's Marathon for it's awesome energy. Also, Palos Verdes, Nisene Marks & Carlsbad for the beautiful scenery.

Favorite marathon memory: Crossing the line at the first marathon that I was a pacer at & seeing two of the girls that were in my group waiting there to Thank me for helping them to both PR.

Other hobbies: Triathlons.

The event that you're most proud of: Finishing my first 100 miler at Rio Del Lago. I went through a lot of highs & a ton of lows. Even when people didn't think that I would make it, with the help of my fabulous crew & postive pacers, I crossed the line to get my first belt buckle & loose my first 2 toenails.

Other pacing experiences: 2010 Nike Women's Marathon, 2011 Modesto Marathon.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: Relax, stay positive & let me do all of the work. I will run even splits so don't worry if you have to stop & use the porta pottie or anything else. Don't waste your energy by sprinting to catch up to the group, just keep my pacing sign in sight until you catch up...you will!

A saying/quotation that you like: "When your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it's something that you want to watch."

4:55 PACE TEAM LEADER: Nathanie Lee

Hometown: Davis, CA

Marathon PR: 4:01 at the 2006 CIM

How many marathons have you run: 12 marathons

Favorite marathon: Big Sur Marathon! How can you not enjoy a marathon? Hills? A piano in the middle of the Bixby Bridge, & crashing waves? It was so surreal!

Favorite marathon memory: When I ran the CIM a few years ago, I trained my 3rd grade students to run 24 miles throughout the year & to do the MaraFunRun (2.6 miles) at the finish line of the marathon course. More than half of my students were out there running the 2.6 while I was out there doing the full marathon. I expected them to go home because it was cold, but when I crossed the finish line, a few of the families of my students were standing there, freezing & cheering me on! I had never been so happy to see them & it really made me feel great as their teacher!

Other hobbies: I also enjoy triathlons, being outdoors, reading, eating & doing yoga!

The event that you're most proud of: I would have to say one event I am most proud of is getting through one of my triathlons without panicking in the open water! Or, another would be just running. I used to hate it & thought I could never do it until I just kept trying & eventually fell in love with it!

Other pacing experiences: I paced a friend through his last half of the American River 50 Miler (24 miles) & am pacing a half marathon this February.

Any tips for runners about to join you pace group: People always tell me to just enjoy the race & to run for myself. Only you know how you were going to feel during the race, so you have to listen to yourself & trust your body! Whether you are following me or not, enjoy each step & you're going to finish!

A saying/quotation that you like: "Do the thing you think you cannot do." , Eleanor Roosevelt

5:10 PACE TEAM LEADER: Sandy Mendez

Hometown: Modesto, CA

Marathon PR: 4:50 at the 2011 Modesto Marathon

How many marathons have you run: This will be my 5th marathon.

Favorite marathon: Modesto!

Favorite marathon memory: Finishing my first marathon & having a large number of family members & friends cheering for ME!

Other hobbies: Spending time with my family & enjoying time with my girls.

The event that you're most proud of: Lithia Loop in Oregon (the toughest marathon ever!)

Other pacing experiences: First time pacer.

Any tips for runners about to join you pace group: Start out slow, have fun & enjoy the journey, one mile at a time.

A saying/quotation that you like: I have many favorie sayings, but the two that ALWAYS get me through a tough run: "You are stronger than you think." & "Pain is temporary, memories last a lifetime...keep making memories!"

5:25 PACE TEAM LEADER: Todd Shipman Hometown: Martinez, CA

Marathon PR: This may sound silly, but I've never ran a marathon! Only 50k (31 miles), 50 miles, 100k (62 miles) and 100 miles. I could estimate that my marathon time would be 3:15-3:30 though.

How many ultras have you run: 25

Favorite marathon: Woodsid Ultra Marathon

Favorite marathon memory: Finishing my first 50 miler, doing what I once considered impossible.

Other hobbies: Ice sculpting, farmer's market, hiking & family time.

Other pacing experiences: This is my first.

The event that you're most proud of: Big Basin 50k, 2nd place overall.

Any tips for runners about to join your pace group: The key point is to have fun out there, & if you're not having fun, "Fake it, till you make it".

A saying/quotation that you like: "Life is about feeling someone pushing you from behind & realizing it's you".

 

The Modesto Marathon committee, in conjunction with the ShadowChase Running Club of Modesto, will again be offering an adult training program to encourage family participation and improved community fitness. See our training group page.