We have often read race reports from runners, whether it is a personal best story, 1st time completing the distance/challenge or a race that didn't go so well, runners write their stories to share their joys or to have lessons learnt by others, and maybe to introduce (or the opposite) the event to those who has not tried.
So I thought, why not a story of a pacer?
Pacers, or the runners with balloons, or the rabbits,
they have been called many names, they have been seen as angels or devils (read
on, you will know why), but they all serve one purpose and only one purpose:
To complete the race in designated timing.
I am going to try to tell the side of the story from
pacer (or as pacer), but before that, let's look what makes a pacer or how to
be a pacer. Let's start with some common questions asked:
1. Who are the pacers?
Amateur Pacers are runners who are appointed by the race
organizer to serve as the guide for runners who have specific race target
timing to follow (or to benchmark in my definition) to complete the race on
target. While there maybe pacers for many race distances (10K, 21K, 42KM), I
will refer to 42KM for this write up. In short, pacers are the person u follow
to complete the race on time as printed on the balloons (or flags/ bib on shirts)
Professional pacers are engaged in races to pace the
elites to focus on the target pace by running together with pacer(s) whose job
is to run the exact assigned pace and bring the elites up to certain distance (eg. 20miles) aka to create a fast pace race for the elites and
they will then drop pace and let the elites race till the end on their own.
Their job is not to win the race (although in some occasions the elites
couldn't make it and the pacer ends up winning the race) and sometimes they are
the upcoming elites. Pacers also form part of the training for the elites and there are also really short distance pacers. But
in this write up I am not talking about this kind of pacer.
If you want to read more about professional pacer or pacemaker, below are some links to read:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacemaker_(running)
http://deadspin.com/matt-scherer-got-paid-to-drop-out-of-races-1610142836
http://speedendurance.com/2013/02/01/interview-with-matt-scherer-professional-pacer-rabbit/
2. How are the pacers chosen?
Pacers are chosen by many ways, in big events, interested
runners who think they qualify will have to apply to the race organizer for
selection. For some events, seasoned runners are approached by the organizer to
be appointed. In some occasions, organizer appoints a reputable running group
or person to assemble the pacer team for the race.
Regardless the way the pacers team is formed, some forms
of selection is done (various criteria in place). The more commonly applied
criteria include: personal best timing, years in running, past experience as
pacer, consistency in the few events, reputation of the applicant (subjective),
personal relationship (reality is a bitch), look/image (again, personal taste),
the unspoken list can go on...
As I have some past experiences in forming pacer team,
quite often Personal best, consistency in race timing and running experience
are my consideration. On the other hand, having a team of pacers that can work together (particularly for the pace groups) is also an important factor (though may not necessary be taken into consideration), having a pace group that communicate well and align among each other on the pacing strategy and communication to the followers can make or break the team.
3. What does it take to be a pacer? Do I qualify as a
pacer ? Or can I apply as a pacer ?
These are the kind of questions I get a lot when someone
is not sure whether to apply to be a pacer or being approached as a pacer. I
supposed the selection criteria above has answer half the question.
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| Not sure if there is such a thing called guideline |
The other half of the answer, lies within YOU, apart from
the ability to complete the distance all the time (if not, most of the time),
there needs to be the part of you that is willing to let go of personal
interest in racing/ winning/ achieving personal best, and to dedicate yourself
for the cause to help others to achieve their goals.
Some of the tough questions to ask yourself and only you
can answer to yourself is:
What's in it for you as a pacer apart from the
politically correct answer?
For the free slot? For the pacer goodies? For fame? For sponsorship? To prove what you are capable of? Be honest, we'd all been there. Whatever your answers are, they are true for you. What's most important is, there must a part in YOU that is doing this for OTHERS.
Then there comes the harder part, no one can give you the
confidence to be a pacer (to some extend maybe someone you look up to can
inspire you and boost your confidence a bit), if you don't feel confident,
don't do it, the runners need to follow someone who is confident to deliver the
timing.
But if you are going to do it, choose the pace that is aligning to your experience and training, don't take up a pacer role as a CHALLENGE to yourself, it won't work; take up the pace that you can nail and can share how to nail it with runners, because if they fail to achieve it this time, your sharing will stay with them for the next attempt which you may not be there with them. I personally have some runners drop me a msg few month later to thank me that my words during our last encounter have helped them to finally achieve the goal they chase for.
But if you are going to do it, choose the pace that is aligning to your experience and training, don't take up a pacer role as a CHALLENGE to yourself, it won't work; take up the pace that you can nail and can share how to nail it with runners, because if they fail to achieve it this time, your sharing will stay with them for the next attempt which you may not be there with them. I personally have some runners drop me a msg few month later to thank me that my words during our last encounter have helped them to finally achieve the goal they chase for.
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| Pacers with pace flags? |
4. Does that mean runners who have experience and fast
can be pacers?
Not really. Anyone can run, some can run faster some
slower, but not just anyone can be pacer. Pacer needs to be able control their
pace consistently, provide useful tips to the followers, distract followers from the dreadful experience when energy runs out and sometimes, to even provide assistance to followers who are suffering from cramps or other difficulties.
More often than not, pacers are experienced runners who are good at the pace that they are pacing, so they may not be fast, but they are good, almost spot on most of the time (if not all the time).
More often than not, pacers are experienced runners who are good at the pace that they are pacing, so they may not be fast, but they are good, almost spot on most of the time (if not all the time).
5. So what do pacers do? What are their duties?
The roles are essentially to pace and complete the race
on targeted time of course. On top of that, there are assumed roles that many
runners would expect from the pacers too, such as sharing tips of running,
pacing strategy, motivations, and even making the journey less suffering (more
enjoyable?) by singing, telling jokes or engage followers in conversations.
Some other services that may be provided by pacers include explaining the route elevations to pace accordingly, sharing info on water stations supplies (those information may be available on race guidebook already) and informing runners when passing significant monuments (many races run pass the local attractions as part of the route), suggest places to take photos and may even carry extra energy supplies/ 1st aid kit to give out should the followers need some.
Some other services that may be provided by pacers include explaining the route elevations to pace accordingly, sharing info on water stations supplies (those information may be available on race guidebook already) and informing runners when passing significant monuments (many races run pass the local attractions as part of the route), suggest places to take photos and may even carry extra energy supplies/ 1st aid kit to give out should the followers need some.
6. So, Pacers are the perfect soldiers ? Nothing seems to bring them down?
Now, just like runners, anything that can go wrong in a
race, may go during the race, even for the pacer. Pacers can have stomach
upset, side stitch, cramps, can fall, get into wrong route and for some unknown
reasons, they end up can't complete their duty. So don't be hard on the pacers when they
don't perform as promised, shit happens sometimes.
But of course, if a pacer makes stupid mistake like racing hard the week or the day before the pacing job, indulge in food or drink that should not have been consumed, taking up task that bigger that one can shoulder, then, the pacer deserves the disaster and should be condemned for the misconduct.
But of course, if a pacer makes stupid mistake like racing hard the week or the day before the pacing job, indulge in food or drink that should not have been consumed, taking up task that bigger that one can shoulder, then, the pacer deserves the disaster and should be condemned for the misconduct.
Myself ? Yes, I have made some of those mistakes in the
past too, my sincere apology for that.
7. Do pacers always have to stick together as a group ?
My view to the question is Yes and No. Despite the fact that basic assumption is all pacers are able to nail the distance at designated pace, not every pacer can run exact same pace all the time (eg. different water stop intervals and uphill/downhill pace), but yes, they still need to stick together, I can't imagine a pacing group that is 1 mile apart between the pacers.
When pacers stick together and there happen to have a big crowd following them, it will create a huge pacing group (that looks pretty impressive and nice) that will often come with 2 potential problems: 1st, water station stop will see large pacing group swamp in for hydration, that may cause human collision and congestion; 2nd, in event route that is narrow, this may cause traffic congestion for the runners trying to overtake from behind.
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| Pacing group |
My advice?
1. If you are aspired (if not, inspired) to be a pacer in future events, start by getting comfortable at the distance and pace that you want to offer your service, in other words, make the pace and distance your ace run. Very often I receive comment like "Just put me in any pace below X pace will do", someone else who is very sure about the pace they want to pace is going to get the job 1st.
2. Work on producing consistently better timing on the distance you plan to pace, for example, if you want to pace a 5:00 hrs marathon, a consistent 4:30-4:45 hrs finishing of your recent few races will give not only the race organizer but yourself some assurance that you are capable of reproducing the results.
3. Start short and start on your own, you can always start by offering pacing service to your fellow buddies who are attempting the distance and pace that you are sure to deliver, use them as practice to be a pacer, share your tips, take care of them, and start from shorter distance like 10,15 or 21KM.
4. Write in to organizers, while some organizers do open application for potential candidates to write in, many engage pacers internally, if you do not know anyone, your best chance is by writing in, nothing to lose in sending an email or a Facebook messenger. Once you have prepared well with some proven records of your own, it is just a matter of time before you get noticed or recommended as pacer.
5. Remember, runners put in time and effort to train for their race, they also put their trust and hope on the pacers to help them to achieve their goal time, it is a task with responsibility, so make them fly.
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| Nothing more rewarding than a handshake or a thank you from the runners after crossing the finishing line, knowing that you played a role in bringing them home, whether it is the entire course or partially. |
You can also read about my pacer report back in 2014 here:
http://yewkhuay.blogspot.my/2014/10/scklm-2014-pacer-report.html
and some other pacers' report:
https://takingitallinstride.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/takeaways-from-being-a-half-marathon-pacer/
https://adaptiverunning.com/2016/07/27/2016-beaches-jazz-run-pace-report/
http://teamfatbird.com/pacers-nighthawks-beat-the-sunrise-sundown-marathon-2017/
Note:
Author has been a pacer for more than 10 full marathons
since 2013, the write up is based on his limited experiences in non-competitive pacing and
personal opinions, it may not reflect the whole picture of pacing, pacer's role, pacer selection or pacer qualification. He encourages runners to pace each other even though they are not under official role as pacers.
Disclaimer:
All photos credit to the original photographers, some photos are taken online, if anyone find inappropriate kindly leave a msg in comment and it shall be removed/replaced.
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