Last Saturday, I found myself back on the starting line—not as a runner chasing my own personal record, but as a pacer for my office colleagues, both current and ex.

The plan was simple: maintain a steady 8–9 min/km pace for 21KM, walk the hills, and aim to finish in about 3 hours ++.

It wasn’t about speed; it was about finishing strong for them.

We kicked off with good energy. I kept glancing back, making sure everyone stayed within pace. By the 5KM mark, I noticed they were already pushing hard to keep up.

Still, I stuck to the promised pace—except for the hills, where I couldn’t resist running.

At 10KM, I turned back, but there was no sign of them. That’s when I decided to shift gears and picked up to 7 min/km.

I crossed the finish line at 2:40—no a proud timing but without major hiccups, no cramps, and only a brief 2-minute walk I paused briefly to adjust my iPhone Spotify playlist in a tightly zipped bag on a dark road.

The only thing that caught me off guard was my heart rate. It averaged 146 bpm, which is on the high side for Zone 2 training.

But given the past two months spent focusing on cycling and a 3-week holiday, I’ll take it.

The highlight wasn’t my finish—it was theirs.

Bryan, my ex-colleagues slashed 40 minutes off his half marathon time from last year. The rest also acheive PB (personal best) in half marathon.

Another colleague completed her first-ever 21KM.

Watching their progress reminded me why I started pacing them in the first place.

When we began half marathon training last year, I told them my hope was simple—that running wouldn’t just be a race-day activity but a lifestyle for them.

Seeing their growth tells me they are heading in the right direction.

And as for me? I’m just happy to run.