Mike started running long distance races in 2012 with a NY's Resolution to finish a half marathon. He was soon hooked, logging over 22,000 miles since then and reaching for his goals of qualifying for Boston/NYC/Chicago, running a 50 miler, and a sub-3:00 marathon (2:54). Having been helped by pacers himself, he appreciates the opportunity to return the favor by bringing his running zeal and experience to bear in helping you achieve your running goals.

4 mile - 28 mins (7:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Tracy K. - 4 mile - 28 mins (7:00 pace) pacer

Tracy is an active runner and cyclist, who has been running since high school. He is in his 5th year as a pacer and really enjoys getting to know his pace groups and providing encouragement throughout the race. Tracy is an experienced runner having finished over 40 half marathons and multiple marathons. He’ll be there as a guide during the race and will help you make the most of your day.

4 mile - 30 mins (7:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Jessalyn S. - 4 mile - 30 mins (7:30 pace) pacer

Jessalyn is an ultra marathoner, 9x marathoner, 2x Boston Marathon runner, and sub 3 hour marathoner. You can usually find her pacing anywhere from a 1:35-1:50 half marathons at many of the local Kansas City area races. She loves to encourage others to push themselves and achieve their goals on race day.

4 mile - 32 mins (8:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Stephanie M. - 4 mile - 32 mins (8:00 pace) pacer

Stephanie started running for fun and as a way to keep in shape in between weekend soccer games. She signed up for her first half in 2012, and became hooked on distance running. She has run everything from a 5k to a 50k. She enjoys recovery runs with her dachshunds Riley and Norman. She has ran 44 (and counting)full marathons to date, including 7 consecutive Boston Marathons! She looks forward to helping people meet personal running goals, while making the marathon experience a great one!

4 mile - 34 mins (8:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Molly R. - 4 mile - 34 mins (8:30 pace) pacer

Molly started running shortly after moving to KC. She has now completed numerous half-marathons, and enjoys running on Saturday mornings with Runner's Edge. Molly uses the Smart Pace Strategy, which allows her to finish racing feeling strong and with some "kick" left! She looks forward to encouraging and helping the running community accomplish their personal goals! Molly has helped friends achieve PRs during races and has encouraged friends/family all the way to the top of numerous 14ers in Colorado! She can't wait to cross the finish line with you.

4 mile - 36 mins (9:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Anna F. - 4 mile - 36 mins (9:00 pace) pacer

Anna has been running for many years. She ran cross country and track in middle school and high school. She is a graduate of Benedictine college and she ran cross country and track at the NAIA division for four years. Her current 5k PR is a 22:45, She has ran several 5k races and a few half marathons including Running with the Cows and the Hospital Hill half marathon- Her half marathon PR is a 1:58. She is a current cross country and track coaching volunteer with the school she works full time at. She has lots of energy, loves to motivate people, and is passionate about the sport of running. She wants to encouarge her runners to push themselves when it is hard by thinking of a mantra to help them run their best.

4 mile - 38 mins (9:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Kirby W. - 4 mile - 38 mins (9:30 pace) pacer

Kirby has been running since middle school when she started competing in track and field, she continued to run through college as a long sprinter and hurdler. After college she started with longer distance running and triathlons. She’s completed two Ironman 70.3 triathlons, 13 half marathons, and 3 full marathons. Kirby is excited to help runners of all abilities reach their goals!

4 mile - 40 mins (10:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Mark G. - 4 mile - 40 mins (10:00 pace) pacer

Mark is an avid lifelong runner, pacer, and cross country coach who has been pacing for more than a decade now. Mark's current racing schedule focuses around full marathons, though he has also completed around fifty halves, and countless 5K's, 10K's, and odd-distance races. Mark loves racing and pacing equally, and gets recharged by supporting runners by helping them reach their goals as a pacer. Mark has also been guiding runners with disabilities for Achilles International, and has founded the Valentine Marathon. Visit ValentineMarathon.com to sign up. You can learn more and connect with Mark at MarkGudgel.com Mark lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife, Sonja, and their two children, Titus and Zooey.

4 mile - 42 mins (10:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Evan B. - 4 mile - 42 mins (10:30 pace) pacer

Evan began distance running in 2010 when he started training for his first half marathon. Since then, he has completed 2 full marathons and countless halves. Evan finds pacing to be extremely rewarding and is hoping to deliver a great experience for those aiming to finish very close to their time goals.

4 mile - 44 mins (11:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Brian L. - 4 mile - 44 mins (11:00 pace) pacer

Brian has been a runner since high school. Running looks a little bit different for him these days. A lot of his time spent recently involves running his kids to ball games and practices. Even though times are busy, Brian really enjoys the thrill of running both as a hobby and in races any chance he gets! His best running companion is his high energy, German Short-haired Pointer, Duke. Brian's running career consists of running countless 5K's, three sprint distance triathlons, several half marathons, and eight full marathons. The highlight of his running career was running Boston in 2:58 back in 2006. He began pacing races in 2011 and has been a pacer for the Kansas City, Rock the Parkway, Gobbler Grind, Garmin, and Hospital Hill half marathons. Brian has also paced the Kansas City full marathon as well. Brian is extremely excited and confident that you will reach your goal pace and have a great time if you're running with his team!

4 mile - 46 mins (11:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Gay P. - 4 mile - 46 mins (11:30 pace) pacer

Gay started running as a little girl and hasn't stopped since! She paces or races in multiple events every year. She is crazy enough to have run up a mountain at the Pikes Peak Ascent three times. She is a wellness physician in private practice and serves as a race physician for several races in the region. She's run Brew to Brew as a soloist, covering over 47 miles in one day. As an internal medicine physician, her personal goal nowadays is to encourage others to exercise and get healthy. She's a veteran pacer and her SmartPace strategy includes warming up in the first two miles, taking advantage of downhills and using even effort on the uphills. Be prepared to sing and have some fun shenanigans. Look for the braids!

4 mile - 48 mins (12:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Katie A. - 4 mile - 48 mins (12:00 pace) pacer

Katie started running in summer of 2019 when her son was 2 and she had just gone through a divorce. She felt like she needed to have hobbies and to find herself again and running was the saving grace! She completed her first half marathon Fall 2019 during the KC Marathon running with the 2:40 pacers. 2 years later, she had her first pacing role, coming full circle and pacing the 2:40 half marathon group at the KC Marathon. No challenge is too small for Katie as she has taken on a 50k, as well as the Disney World Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, Half, Full in 4 days) and The Princess Challenge (5k, 10k, half). She is currently training for her 6th marathon!

4 mile - 50 mins (12:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Lauren A. - 4 mile - 50 mins (12:30 pace) pacer

Since running her first 5k in fifth grade, Lauren has been passionate about running. Competing in track and cross country in school, Lauren now regularly runs in half and full marathons. She completed her eitght full marathon at Chicago. Training includes a mix of running, crossfitting, swimming and HIIT classes. She loves to stay active and occasionally participates in triathlons and mud runs. Lauren can't wait to share her love for running with you and is way to excited to help you have a great race!

4 mile - 52 mins (13:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Payton M. - 4 mile - 52 mins (13:00 pace) pacer

Payton has been running for over 10 years, with experience ranging from 5Ks to full marathons. Over the years, Payton has embraced every aspect of running, from personal training to pacing others in their races. As a seasoned runner, Payton knows the importance of staying consistent, maintaining a positive mindset, and supporting fellow runners to achieve their goals. As a pacer for this race, Payton plans to set a steady, encouraging rhythm and provide motivation every step of the way. Whether it’s offering helpful tips, uplifting words, or leading by example, Payton is dedicated to helping runners cross the finish line with confidence. Expect a mix of focus, fun, and unwavering support as Payton brings energy and expertise to the course.

4 mile - 54 mins (13:30 pace) SmartPace Teams

Sarah N. - 4 mile - 54 mins (13:30 pace) pacer

Sarah is a mother of 4 boys, 2 of which will run with her sometimes. She has always liked running and became disciplined in her running in 2022. Since then she has ran over a dozen half marathons and her first marathon. Sarah has used pacers and loved the motivation and help from them. She decided to pace to be apart of helping others achieve their goals.

4 mile - 56 mins (14:00 pace) SmartPace Teams

Mary G. - 4 mile - 56 mins (14:00 pace) pacer

Mary found a love for running with her local running club in Little Rock, AR. Before long she found herself not just enjoying a beer with them but running races with them. Mary has done some fun races like the nighttime Dam Run and a few mud run 5Ks. She really didn’t get into half marathons until she moved to Kansas in 2010. Motivated by a goal to lose baby weight and take her twins on a Disney adventure, Mary and her husband finished The Goofy Challenge at Disney in Florida in January 2016. Hooked on Challenges, they signed up for the Gauntlet Challenge and Coast to Coast Challenge that same November at Disney in California. They’ve signed up for the Heartland 39.3 Challenges pretty much every year after that. They also enjoyed the Sweet 16 Series in KC while it lasted. Mary has also recently tried out the Heartland 30K Series. After befriending another pacer and hearing how rewarding pacing is, Mary wanted to try it and help out others with their race.

0:58 SmartPace Teams

Penny T. - 0:58 pacer

Penny's started out as a race volunteer turned runner in 2011. Penny got more serious with running in 2016 and has run over 30 marathons, as well as three 50k and two 50 milers. She has also completed over 135 half marathons, pacing over 30 races. She loves talking running/races and looks forward encouraging others to help reach their goals using the run/walk intervals Galloway method.

0:60 SmartPace Teams

Lisa P. - 0:60 pacer

Lisa started training in earnest with a local running group in the summer of 2013 after being lapped by a chihuahua at the Plaza Dog N Jog. She has completed numerous 5 and 10K’s, 20+ half marathons, 2 marathons, and a 50K. Her mantra is “life is too short not to have fun”. She looks forward to helping others reach their goal of finishing a half marathon using the Galloway run/walk method resulting in a positive experience on race day.

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In this section:

Our Upcoming Races

Words to run by

Meet your Pacers forTrolley Run

4 Mile SmartPace Team

Mike B. - 4 mile - 26 mins (6:30 pace) pacer