My Beppu
Experience
by Pat Carroll
When I was
progressing through the ranks in the early 80's I spent a great
deal of time training with Lawrie Adams who inspired me to
contest a marathon in Japan. Lawrie had a personal best of
2:15:59 which he had clocked at the Beppu Marathon in Japan.
I
eventually discovered that Japan had five elite marathons -
Tokyo (January), Biwa (March), Hokkaido (August), Fukuoka
(December) and of course Beppu (February). All marathons are
held on the first Sunday of their respective months.
Beppu No. 1
Turn the
clock forward to the first Sunday in February 1994 and I am at
the start line of the Beppu Marathon. My USA based agent, Derek
Froude, arranged a deal for me to run in the race. I had been
running track for a few years and from a race organisers
perspective my 1988 2:10:44 Gold Coast performance was appearing
a bit stale. I still had confidence in my ability to run well at
the marathon and was keen to see what I could manage in one of
Japans famous races.
Derek
managed to secure a start in the race along with
airfare/accommodation and a few bucks. There was one proviso
though - I had to be a pace runner for part of the race.
My pace
runner duties were to involve running as the B pacer and
reaching 25k at 2:10 marathon pace. The A pacer's task was to
run 2:08 marathon pace to 25k. I accepted the offer however I
advised all concerned that once I completed my pacing duties I
had every intention to finish. I managed to finish fourth in
2:11:51, my second fastest time ever.
Beppu No. 2
Turn the
clock forward another twelve months and I am back at the Beppu
Marathon yet again and yes you guessed it, my bunny ears were
firmly locked in place. I was contracted to run as the B pacer
(rabbit) for the second year in a row.
I had come
to the conclusion that the B pacing role worked well for me for
it ensured:
-
A start
in a race I would have had difficult gaining an entry in
otherwise.
-
The pace
I was expected to run was the same pace I would be attempting
had I not been a pacer.
-
All
expenses paid and a few dollars up front.
The field was
a great deal tougher than the year before, notably including the
then world record holder, Ethiopia's Belayneh Densimo whose
2:06:50 WR stood for ten years. Also running was Germany's 1992
Barcelona Olympic Marathon Bronze Medallist, Stephan Freigang.
Pace runners 'were' not promoted
The race
was being televised live throughout Japan. Pace runners were
never revealed as such in the press for the Japanese wanted to
depict what would 'appear' to be a strictly amateur race as
being free of any monetary reward.
Pace
runners were asked not to reveal their role to the press and to
portray at all times that they were serious contenders. Once
pacing duties were completed pace runners were asked to either
slowly fade into the distance or to possibly fake an injury.
Times have now changed and pace runners are now openly discussed
in Japan.
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