Using a marathon pace group

1 Why use a pace group?

An organized pace group will help you achieve your target time. The pacers in a pace group will help you maintain the best pace for the race. For a flat course, that will be an even pace, and for a hilly course, it will be an even effort. The pacers will be able to offer advice, encouragement and guidance throughout the race.

2 Race Specific Notes

Each race is different, so find out the following information for your race. If you are organizing a pace group, change this section to reflect your race.

• What pace groups will there be?
• How many pacers in each pace group? (Some races have one, some have many)
• How do you find your pacers at the start?
• How will you identify your pacers in the race? Tee shirt, balloons, etc?
• What is the course like? Is it flat or hilly? Where are the hills? (You need to know this anyway!)

3 Tips for using a pace group

• You don't have to sign up to use a pace group, though doing so can help the organizers.
• A pace group will help you, but you need to be prepared for the race. Going out with a pace group that is too fast for you is no better than going out too fast on your own.
• On a hilly course, pacers will aim for an even effort, rather than an even pace. Doing the same pace up and down hills will make the race much harder. On courses with significant hills, this could be as much as a minute per mile faster downhill, and the same slower up hill.
• Don't expect your pacer to be exactly on time. A variation of 10-15 seconds per mile, even on the flat, is quite possible.
• If you need to stop for any reason (toilet, retie a shoe, etc), aim to catch up your pacer slowly. Remember, it takes a lot more time to catch up than you expect. If you stop for 30 seconds, and pick up the pace by 10 seconds per mile, it will take you three miles to catch up!
• Make a note of the time you cross the start line. This is the difference between your chip time and the gun time.
• If you are running without a pace group and slow up at the end of the race, joining a pace group as they pass you is fine. They will be glad to help you out.
• Check if your pacer is intending to cross the line on target for the pace, or a minute or two faster. Are they intending to use gun time, or chip time?
• Find out what your pacer will do at aid stations; will the carry on at the same pace, slow down slightly, or walk through?
• Ask your pacer what their strategy is; it should be even effort, but check just in case.
• Ask your pacer about their background; have they paced this race before, what's their PR, how many marathons have they run/paced? These answers should give you confidence that your pacer is well prepared.