At the Times Internet Half Marathon, the real pace of the race was not just made by speed, but by mastery of control. The pace bowlers – steady, disciplined and focused – became the silent architects of the course, guiding hundreds of runners towards their goals with precision.In the 10K category, his impact was immediate. The groups of runners moved forward in rhythm, led by fast bowlers like Sonu Kumar and Gaurav Kumar, who set a strong, consistent pace and finished close to their 60-minute targets at 57:30 and 58:30. For many participants, this meant running with clarity rather than pressure. With over a decade of running experience and a strong commitment to promoting fitness within the community, Jitendra Advani brings leadership and stability to the course. Along with her, Payal Badlani maintained a well-balanced pace for the 70-minute group, with the two finishing at 1:09:16 and 1:06:54.The same discipline was applied in groups of 80 and 90 minutes. Sunil Kumar Johri and Abhay Kohli ensured that the runners remained steady in the middle section, while Rita Basu and Shalu Dudeja guided the participants to a strong finish within 90 minutes. For Shalu, this moment has deep meaning – from once starting out with a recovery walk to now leading others with over 100 podium finishes behind her.21K told a story of endurance and control. Vimal Bhatt and Sanjay Panghal set the tone early on and finished the nearly 2-hour race at a steady pace. Pankaj Kumar Tiwari and Sankalp Kant led the 2:15 group in accuracy, finishing in almost perfect sync at 2:12:00 and 2:11:59.For the 2:30 group, Tauseef Shaikh and Deepak Gupta maintained a steady rhythm across the distance, finishing at 2:25:14 and 2:29:01. Utkarsh Himalaya, who is relatively new to the race, converted consistent effort into confidence to take on the half marathon, finishing strong at 2:43:35. With them, Ruhi Singh’s journey – from personal progress to empowering communities of female runners in cities – added a powerful sense of purpose, as she completed her race in 2:50:31.As the race progressed and fatigue set in, the pacers became more than just timekeepers. They become running anchors – helping runners maintain their pace, stay focused, and push through the toughest sections.Pacers didn’t run for recognition in the Times Internet Half Marathon. Yet, in each runner who was strong, steady, and close to their goal, their influence was undeniable – making them the true backbone of the race.