Pacers are folks that would run a race with you. However instead of running their own race, they are running it for the public. What do I mean? Well you can think of them as your fun loving peeps who are moving markers for you to follow throughout the race. I had the good fortune to be a pacer with the friendly people over @runningdepartment sometime back and I had an awesome time!
As the Singapore Marathon is just round the corner, do read on to find out a little bit more about the strategy of the pacers from runningdepartment and some raceday tips.
1) What would be the pacers' raceday strategy?
The running department has a strategy that has worked for the last decade. This was adopted from Ben Pullham from Coached (check them out if you want to engage in a scientific way of improving your running). In this strategy, the pacers use an even pace strategy to run the entire course of the race. An even split means the pacers will run at a constant pace from the get go till the end. This is done to better reflect the realities of the race.
Pacers on raceday - even pace strategy
Some might wonder if it is the best strategy or if it is the most efficient because the usual "personal bests" kind of strategies usually involves some form of negative splits. Well for the pacers, they are here to be a marker for the crowd to follow. Holding a constant pace from the start would provide PB seeking runners a constant point of reference. This has worked well as it allows runners to anchor themselves to a moving target and this allows them to gauge how near/far they are in the race. Furthermore these pacers are running the race for the public and they do know that some compromises have to be made.
2) How did the pacers train?
The training structure is a 16 week programme where they start their long distance runs at 18km. Thereafter they work and build themselves and the distance up for each long run and the long runs usually occur on every Saturday. Throughout the week, there are also little runs that they are supposed to do to ensure they get into tiptop shape.
One of the long runs on Saturday @ ECP
A more detailed training programme for Running Department can be found:
3) How can I spot them?
Simply look out for their balloons on raceday! If you are not aware, they would be having balloons tied to them on race day. Different coloured balloons would mark out the different pace groups.
The balloon colours for the various groups for SCSM19 are below!
Balloon colours for the full marathon:
Balloon colours for the half marathon & 10km run:
4) How can I follow them on raceday?
It is very simple to follow the pacers on raceday.
Firstly, you need to be at the race early! There are benefits to reaching early and they include; chilling out before the race, getting yourself calm and collected, mingle with your friends who have signed up with you to relax, using the toilet...and the list goes on.
Next you need to go into the start pen on time! This is especially important if you want to follow the pacers right from the start without playing catch up. The pacers are usually inserted at the start of each pen so do look out for them. (Actually you won't miss them for sure because they have their balloons with them)
Lastly...YOU NEED TO BE IN THE CORRECT PEN! The pen breakdown for the pacer insertions for SCSM19 are below. Do ensure that you are in the right pen so that you can follow the right group!
That's all for today, have an awesome race!
Chris out!
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