As we’ve mentioned in our first article about Vivicitta, BSI (Budapest Sport Office) not only organizes races, but endeavor to popularize running itself. For this purpose, they recruited a group of enthusiasts to develope a running ambassador network, which encourages beginners to start running regularly, while also helps experienced runners to find always new motivation.

Attila is one of the ambassadors of the 13th district, establisher of the Angyalcipők running community – a team that welcomes runners from the area. I asked him how it all started and how the system works.

- I’ve become a running ambassador after realising I could share the joy of running with others by encouriging them to join me on my lonely routes. The running ambassador network of BSI has existed for over two years now – we’re present in more than 60 cities and large towns, organizing local running communities. A good team has developed in the country. We organize smaller, local running races, train for bigger races together, meet regularly not only at running events, but for team building as well.

This year will be your first running at Vivicitta not only as an ambassador, but as a pace-runner as well. What does a pace-runner do and why did you want to become one?

- I’ve met pace-runners at my 3rd or 4th race - practically, they are the so-called pace-setting rabbits at races, who assist you in achieving a certain target time. They run in properly structured rythm, tempo and help runners at races to achieve their own goals and dreams, to reach the finish line withing the time they planned. I used their help at my first half marathon – I wanted to finish within two hours. My tactics was not running along with them during the whole race, but to start from behind them, later passing them and keeping them behind me. I thought this is likely to make my goal managable – and it was successful. A few years have passed, and I thought I’d like to help others in achieving their goals as a pace-runner as well. BSI gladly recieved my application, they checked my results to verify I can keep the pace I undertook, which I’m delighted I can. So I’ll be one of the pace-runners for the target time of 2:00:00 – which is a magical limit by half marathons and which most of the runners would like to achieve.

How many pace-runners will there be at Vivicitta and what is your running plan?

- There will be pace-runners for the following targets: 1:45:00, 2:00:00 and 2:15:00. Each target time will be dictated by two pace-runners, with different color-coded balloons and clearly visible signs. Tempo plans can be downloaded from BSI’s web-site – we’ll run in a steadily slowing pace, starting with a pace of 5:35/km, slowing down to 5:43/km. To keep these targets, we’ll use all kinds of technical help – speed measurement, timer, GPS. Runners won’t have to think about these, we’ll keep track of the numbers.

How can you keep the pace so precisely? Can you train for that?

- I noticed if I set a pace for myself, I can keep it. With three years’ running routine, I practically can keep target paces with the accuracy of seconds. My body feels it, but all sorts of technical gadgets are helping me as well. Fortunately, the deviation is not significant. What’s more of a difficulty for me is that at other times I run much faster, so I’ll have to slow back down to keep this target time. Although there’s no official authentication, I’m already practicing keeping the pace so it shouldn’t be a problem.

According to my experiences, there’s a great demand on this kind of help. What are the difficulties during the race?

- A lot of people plan to run right next to pace-runners at races, usually a great groupping emerges around them – up to 100-150 people accumulates between them, making it difficult to move. At least 20 of us from the Angyalcipők community have this target time, which is only a narrow cross-section of what the more than 4000 registrated runners want.

Another difficulty is refreshment. Those who want refreshment on the way need to learn how to do it on the run, or have to take the risk of falling behind and then having to catch up again. At such a crowd it’s impossible to wait for everyone.

What kind of a relationship do you have with Vivicitta?

- My first race was in autumn, so I prefer autumn races. Training is easier in the summer. Winter prep is always more dangerous – in the cold, muscles stretch less and are not warming properly, so injuries are more likely. Vivicitta was always an experience of performance for me, my results were never authoritative. Last year, I finished the race with a runner of the 13th district running community, helping him exceed his personal best.

I hope running as a pace-runner will be a rewarding experience for you.

There are only 10 days left before the race, but due to the great interest, registration for the half marathon has been closed by BSI yesterday. I wish everyone successful preparation and a race rich in adventures. You can still sign up for the rest of the distances on Vivicitta - visit the international web-site of BSI.

http://www.budapestmarathon.com/spring_halfmarathon/raceinfo.html