Thoughts & Observations

The Start of Los Angeles Marathon Training 2022

September 13, 2021
Setting a goal and getting started gives you the feeling that everything is going to be all right. Personal goals have a way of putting your life in order, then one goal seems to set you on a path where everything becomes orderly and life comes into alignment. But goals have to be worthy of… more

It All Started 25 Years Ago

June 4, 2021
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pacers Founder and Team Doc On the first Sunday in June, Robin and I stood dead center of the Rose Bowl’s Lot K. It was early and the parking lot was empty. Nearly a year of planning and it all came down to this. We sent out flyers by mail and… more

A Message from our Outgoing President

July 31, 2020
Thank you for the wonderful drive-by car parade, heartfelt outgoing video, and hundreds of kind messages over the past few weeks. I appreciate the admiration but enough about me — now it’s time for me to thank my terrific leadership team, our amazing coaches and pace leaders, all the volunteers, and every walker and runner… more

Downhill Race Training

August 27, 2019
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pacers Founder and Team Doc Revel Big Bear is on our race calendar and it’s time to start training. It’s a big downhill race, big for the altitude loss of nearly 5,000 feet. I don’t know of another race with that big of a loss anywhere else in the country.  It… more

How Should I Run?

July 30, 2019
  By Dr. Steve Smith, Pacers Founder and Team Doc There is a lot written about the best way to run. I’m talking about gait, form, forefoot vs. rearfoot, vs. midfoot. The question of how best to run pops up all the time. You hear it on the runs, in social media, coffee shops, and… more

Running in the Heat

July 25, 2019
It’s going to be hot this weekend and if you are going on a long run, here are a few tips to get you through the day. If you are going long, go early. We like seeing everyone at the tables at 7:00, we are a team, a community, a family. We want everyone to… more

There is No Finish Line

March 26, 2019
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pasadena Pacer Founder and Team Doc Crossing the finish line is a feeling like no other. Barriers have been breached. You have attempted the impossible, and you did it! You can feel the power of accomplishment and you are looking into the future with a whole new attitude. You know you… more

Thank You, Sandy. PP President Ends Her Two Year Tenure.

July 17, 2018
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pacers Founder and Team Doc This month, we crossed the finish line of a very long endurance event. Unlike many endurance events—with medals and cheering spectators—this one went by, barely noticed. It was one of those victories forged of gritty determinism and raw effort. There have been a many outstanding people… more

Taking Joy in the Achievement of Others

June 2, 2017
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pasadena Pacer Founder and Team Doc A Pacer cheers from the crowd. I went up to Ventura last weekend to see the finish line at the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon. We had a lot of Pacers up there and some were running the race of their lives.… more

Mother’s Day Musings

May 13, 2017
By Dr. Steve Smith, Pacers Founder and Team Doc What is said about people of high standing is rarely consistent with their true character. Last weekend my son told me, “Never meet your heroes. It is better to leave them as heroes and to continue to believe in them.” I have found this often to… more