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At the Times Internet Half Marathon, the real momentum of the race wasn’t just created by speed, but by those who mastered control. Pacers – steady, disciplined, and focused – became the silent architects of the course, guiding hundreds of runners towards their goals with precision.In the 10K category, their impact was immediate. Groups of runners moved in rhythm, anchored by pacers like Sonu Kumar and Gaurav Kumar, who held a strong, consistent pace and finished close to their 60-minute targets at 57:30 and 58:30. For many participants, this meant running with clarity instead of pressure. Jitendra Advani, with over a decade of running experience and a strong commitment to promoting fitness within the community, brought leadership and stability to the course. Alongside him, Payal Badlani maintained a well-balanced pace for the 70-minute group, with the duo finishing at 1:09:16 and 1:06:54.The same discipline carried into the 80 and 90-minute groups. Sunil Kumar Johri and Abhay Kohli ensured runners stayed steady through the middle stretch, while Rita Basu and Shalu Dudeja guided participants to strong finishes just under the 90-minute mark. For Shalu, the moment carried deeper meaning – from once starting with recovery walks to now pacing others with over 100 podium finishes behind her. The 21K told a story of endurance and control. Vimal Bhatt and Sanjay Panghal set the tone early, finishing around the 2-hour mark with composed pacing. Pankaj Kumar Tiwari and Sankalp Kant led the 2:15 group with precision, finishing almost in perfect sync at 2:12:00 and 2:11:59.For the 2:30 group, Tauseef Shaikh and Deepak Gupta maintained a steady rhythm across the distance, finishing at 2:25:14 and 2:29:01. Utkarsh Himalaya, relatively new to running, turned consistent effort into the confidence to take on half marathons, finishing strong at 2:43:35. Alongside him, Ruhi Singh’s journey – from individual progress to empowering communities of women runners across cities – added a powerful sense of purpose, as she completed her run in 2:50:31.As the race progressed and fatigue set in, pacers became more than just timekeepers. They became moving anchors – helping runners hold their pace, stay focused, and push through the toughest stretches.At the Times Internet Half Marathon, pacers did not run for recognition. Yet, in every runner who finished stronger, steadier, and closer to their goal, their impact was undeniable – making them the true backbone of the race.
