Pacers set the rhythm at Times Internet Half Marathon | India News

At the Times Internet Half Marathon, the real pace of the race was created not just by speed, but by those who mastered the controls. The pacers—steady, disciplined, and focused—became the silent architects of the course, guiding hundreds of runners with precision toward their goals.In the 10K category, their impact was immediate. The group of runners kept pace, anchored by pacers like Sonu Kumar and Gaurav Kumar, who maintained a strong, consistent pace and finished close to their 60-minute targets at 57:30 and 58:30. For many participants, this means running with clarity rather than stress. Jitendra Advani, with over a decade of running experience and a strong commitment to promoting fitness in the community, brings leadership and stability to the course. Alongside him, Payal Badlani maintained a balanced pace for the 70-minute group, with the pair finishing in 1:09:16 and 1:06:54.The same discipline is carried out in 80 and 90-minute groups. Sunil Kumar Johri and Abhay Kohli ensured the runners stayed put in the middle stretch, while Rita Basu and Shalu Dudeja guided the participants to a strong finish just under the 90-minute mark. For Shalu, the moment holds deep meaning – from once a recovery walk to now leading others with more than 100 podium finishes behind her.21K told a story of patience and control. Subimal Bhatt and Sanjay Pangal set the tone early on, finishing around the 2-hour mark with composed pacing. Pankaj Kumar Tiwari and Sankalp Kant led the 2:15 group with precision, finishing in near-perfect sync in 2:12:00 and 2:11:59.For the 2:30 group, Tausif Sheikh and Deepak Gupta maintained a steady rhythm throughout the distance, finishing in 2:25:14 and 2:29:01. Utkarsh Himalaya, relatively new to running, parlayed consistent effort into the confidence to take on the half marathon, finishing strong in 2:43:35. Alongside her, Ruhi Singh’s journey – from personal progress to empowering women runners across the city – added a strong sense of purpose, as she finished her run in 2:50:31.As the race progresses and fatigue sets in, pacers become more than just timekeepers. They become moving anchors – helping runners maintain their momentum, stay focused, and get through the toughest stretches.At the Times Internet Half Marathon, pacers didn’t run for recognition. Yet, for each runner who finished strong, steady, and close to their goal, their impact was undeniable—making them the true backbone of the race.