Urban Cow Pace Teams
The Urban Cow Pace Team is sponsored and supported by our good friend Mike Ong of Lyon Realty.
Are you interested in running a specific time or perhaps a personal best in the half marathon? Plan ahead to have our pace team help you reach your goal. We will have pacers for the following Half Marathon finish times: 1:25; 1:30; 1:35; 1:40; 1:45; 1:50; 1:55; 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15; 2:30; 3:00; 3:15; and 4:00.
We wish you the best of luck in achieving your finish time goal!
1:25 (6:29/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Melvin Getumbe
Melvin was born in Kenya ,and immigrated to the US just three years ago. As a lifelong runner, Melvin has been on a quest to run in the Boston Marathon, and his dreams just came true when he qualified at the 2015 Modesto Marathon running his PR of 2:48:08. 2015 has been Melvin’s best year when he reached his PR goal for the Half Marathon when he ran his PR 1:14:17 at the Rina’s Half Marathon in Ripon, CA. Melvin continued his running success and he represented Yuba College at the 2014 NorCal XC Championships in Fresno. Apart from running road races, Melvin also run Obstacle Races such as Spartan Races, Atlas Races and Mud Races. He works Full-Time as a Machine Operator which sponsors him through his races. Melvin enjoys running as part of his hobby, a way to stay fit as well as travelling and making new friends.Find Melvin on Facebook.
1:30 (6:52/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Kyle Petty
As the sole member and self-proclaimed captain of the 5:00 a.m. street running team, I usually find myself training on some portion of the Urban Cow Half Marathon course. I like to think that what I do in the darkness helps me when I have to run it in the daylight. Because it was my first half and because of what it means to Rich, I’m loyal to Cowtown and the Urban Cow it has become. My goal each year is to accept the offer to pace the half, then parlay the training and co-lead a pace group at CIM, as I did in 2016 and 2017 for the 3:00 group. I’ve paced a number of events from 5k to marathon, including Urban Cow, for nearly a decade.
I’ve had my best marathons on the east coast. I set personal bests in the Boston Marathon twice, including a 2:42 PR in 2015. I also enjoy an occasional trail race, and have completed a handful of 50k’s. This enjoyment even brought me a first overall at the (now ended) Run on the Sly 50k event. My favorite kind of running is the kind that is regular, but my favorite kind of racing is the kind that tests me for something between a 10 miler and a 30k.
I look forward to setting a steady pace and helping you exceed your expectations and secure or strengthen your love affair with Urban Cow. I consider this race to be the most special road running event the community has to offer.
1:35 (7:15/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Kevin Kamai
I take part in the big running community in Sacramento and compete in road and trail races.
Former pace Leader for the Golden Valley Harriers Running Club
Team Remo
Former Skechers Performance Ambassador
Personal Best:
5K: 17:48
10K: 36:54
Half Marathon: 1:22:26
Marathon: 2:54:53 Marathon
50K 4:08:30
1:40 (7:38/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Mark Lantz
Mark has been an avid runner since 2000 where his immediate goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he accomplished on his first marathon attempt. While training with the Buffalo Chips Running Club, Mark was then coached to a sub-3:00-hour marathon, where he has since PR’d with a 2:45.
It was in 2004 that Mark turned his attention to trails and the ultra-marathon distance and now boasts ten consecutive, sub-24-hour Western States 100-Mile finishes including one top-ten finish. Other favorite trail races include American River 50, Silver State 50, and Waldo 100K.
Mark combines his passion for running with his enjoyment of helping others reach their running goals by pacing at Urban Cow.
Mark has led an Urban Cow pace group for four years and has always come in right on the moo-ney.
1:45 (8:00/Mile) Goal Finish Time
John Nichols
My boys William & Spenser helping me through the final lap for Western States 2017 (11th finish). Per my race number, I was 52. Now I'm 53.
1:50 (8:23/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Raphael Nkadi
I am humbled to be able to pace and help others meet their goals, many thanks and appreciation.
Age 49
Marathon PR: 2:39:30
20 marathons
1:55 (8:46/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Michael Erikson
Been running for about 10 years. Have done over 50 half marathons 7 fulls. Have started doing half Ironman’s recently and just signed up for my first full next summer. Always love pushing myself. This is my second time pacing the Urban Cow!!
2:00 (9:09/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Louis Shih
I caught the running bug a years ago after a number of years of basketball and racquetball. Over the years, I did many races from 5k to 50 Miles. There is no better feeling than helping other runners reach their goals while having lots of fun along the way and the thrill of the competition. I can’t wait to hit every mile split time and see runners achieve their goal with a smile.
2:05 (9:32/mile) Goal Finish Time
Katie Jones Koning
Started running as a youngster and never really stopped. I just finished my 10th marathon a few weeks ago which was a PR at 3:34:02. I have run three Boston Marathons and will run Boston again in 2016. Half-marathon is my favorite distance. This will be my first pacing experience and cannot wait to share the excitement of half-marathoning will others!
2:10 (9:55/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Ken Press
Ken Press, a life long resident of Sacramento, has made running a part of his life since he can remember. His first half marathon was the Sacramento Half Marathon (now the Urban Cow) and has made this race an annual tradition. After coaching a number of people for half and full marathon, Ken decided to expand his coaching into a profession training program – Sacramento Friends in Training or Sacfit as it is known by most.
In the eight years since founding Sacfit, Ken and his staff of 80 coaches have provided a fun and inspiration training program for over 5000 runners and walkers and have helped them achieve goals ranging from finishing their first marathon to qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Along the way, Ken founded what has become one of the largest Sacramento Springtime events – the American River Parkway Half Marathon, the sister race to the Urban Cow Half Marathon.
Recently, Ken expanded Sacfit to include Sacfit Ultra, an ultra-marathon training program and has successfully coached every participant to completing 50K, 50 mile, or 100 mile races.
In his “spare” time, Ken has completed numerous races of varying distances and is a veteran of five American River 50 mile races and a finisher of the 2012 Western States 100 mile Endurance Run.
2:15 (10:18/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Mike Ong
When you have four kids, all girls in my case, you are either running after them or running out to catch a breath of fresh air. We are very fortunate to live in an area with great places to run, a fantastic running community, and an array of exciting running events.
I’ve BQ’d with 3:23’s at the Chicago Marathon and Mountains 2 Beach Marathon.
We are going to have a blast running 13.1 miles while working together to achieve your goal!
2:30 (11:26/Mile) Goal Finish Time
Shavi Singh
Shavi started racing in 2008 where his goal was to finish a 10K. That was just the beginning as Shavi went on completing numerous half marathon, marathon, 50 KM, 50 Mile and 100 KM races. Shavi’s first 100mile race was in 2013 at Tahoe Rim Trail 100M. Since then, Shavi has crossed the Western States 100 mile Endurance run's finish line 3 times.
Shavi is local to Sacramento and having run Urban Cow a few times, he is well versed with Urban Cow route. Shavi brings his craze for running along with his enjoyment of helping others reach their running goals by pacing at Urban Cow.
The picture is of Shavi and his wife who supported him in crossing the finish line in 2017.
2:45 (12:35/Mile) Goal Finish Time
John Hargett
After a brief hiatus from Urban Cow last year I am very happy and excited to be back leading the 2:30 pace group. Most of my running is typically done on trails, but it’s always nice to be back at Urban Cow, which was my first half-marathon. My running experience includes a variety of trail races, including Western States, and the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 mile races.
3:00 (13:44/mile) Goal Finish Time
Anne Novak
Anne completes her races as a power walker. Her first race was in 2011, Clarksburg Half Marathon. She got the bug and since then has completed 10 half-marathons including Shamrock’n, the Parkway Half and others. She has branched out and completed a few trail races, her favorites being She Rocks and Run on the Sly. Anne has completed 5 marathons CIM a couple times, Avenue of the Giants and River City Marathon, where she placed third in her age group. Races provide challenges; help to keep her healthy and working toward positive goals. Anne has three grown daughters, enjoys hiking and just being out in nature. Her goal is to one day complete a trail marathon.
3:15 (14:52/mile) Goal Finish Time
Cheri Alvarez
I started running in 1998. My first marathon was in 1999 and it was Avenue of the Giants!!! I was able to run a couple of others (including half of Comrades in South Africa (which was over a marathon) as well as a couple of 50Ks including Way Too Cool. However, after an unfortunate ankle incident, I am no longer running. BUT, I’m walking now!!
Since I starting walking, I now walk marathons and ultras!! My first walking marathon was Cowtown in 2009!! I have walked 7 marathons (including the Disney World Goofy Challenge), a 50K, several half marathons, and a 50 miler for my 50th birthday!! In addition to walking marathons, I have also power walked several 50K events and two (2) 50 milers!!
I have fun while I’m walking and you will too!!!
4:00 (18:18/mile) Goal Finish Time
Linda Moore
Linda ran her first half marathon in Monterey on November 2010 (Big Sur Half). She thought it was going to be her first and last race until 2012 when she was challenged to run the Shamrock Half in Sacramento. Since then, she ran over 20 half marathons, five full marathons (San Francisco, CIM twice, & Big Sur). Wanting to double the distance, she signed up to run the American River 50-mile race in Auburn. Linda has been running on the trails since and has done several 50k’s (Marin Ultra, Quicksilver, Tamalpa, Folsom Lake, Rucky A Chuck, Overlook, Salmon Falls, to name a few) and a 100k distance (Ultra Race Of Champions – UROC). She is also a mentor for Fleet Feet Sacramento.
Linda has paced for other runners and swept several trail races. This is her first time pacing on the road and is excited to help motivate other runners and get them to the finish line.