Pacers set pace at Times Internet Half Marathon

In the Era Internet Half Marathon, the real power of the race is not just created by speed, but by those who have control. Steady, disciplined and focused walkers become the silent architects of the course, guiding hundreds of runners to their goals with precision.In the 10K category, their impact was immediate. Led by pacers such as Sonu Kumar and Gaurav Kumar, a group of runners moved in rhythm, maintaining a strong, consistent pace and closing in on their 60-minute targets in 57:30 and 58:30. For many participants, this meant running with clarity rather than stress. With over a decade of running experience and a commitment to community fitness, Jitendra Advani brings leadership and stability to the field. Payal Badlani, who competed alongside him, maintained a balanced pace in the 70-minute race. The two completed the race in 1 hour, 09 minutes and 16 seconds and 1 hour, 06 minutes and 54 seconds respectively.The same principle applies to 80-minute and 90-minute groups. Sunil Kumar Johri and Abhay Kohli ensured that the runners remained stable in the middle stages, while Rita Basu and Shalu Dudeja guided the participants to a strong finish in the 90 minutes. For Shalu, this moment has a deeper meaning – from that initial recovery walk, she has now completed more than 100 podium finishes.21K tells a story about endurance and control. Vimal Bhatt and Sanjay Panghal set the tone early and completed the 2-hour or so race at a calm pace. Pankaj Kumar Tiwari and Sankalp Kant were precisely ahead of the 2:15 group, completing the race in almost perfect synchrony with 2:12:00 and 2:11:59.In the 2 hour and 30 group, Tauseef Sheikh and Deepak Gupta maintained a stable rhythm throughout the entire race and finally finished in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 14 seconds and 2 hours, 29 minutes and 01 seconds. Relatively new to running, Utkarsh Himalaya turned his perseverance into the confidence to run the half marathon, finishing in an impressive time of 2:43:35. Alongside him, Ruhi Singh’s journey – from personal progress to empowering the community of women runners in various cities – added a strong sense of purpose as she completed the run in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds.As the race progresses and fatigue sets in, the pacer becomes more than just a timekeeper. They become a moving anchor – helping runners maintain pace, stay focused and get through the toughest workouts.At the Thames Internet Half Marathon, pacers don’t run for recognition. However, for every runner who runs stronger, more consistently, and closer to their goals, their impact is undeniable – making them a true backbone of their race.