Pacers - Discuss

5 watchers

Mark J Apr 2012 5:06pm, 23 Apr 2012 1,120 posts	0 Mark J Pace team? A group of you for various times i take it?
Velociraptor Apr 2012 5:14pm, 23 Apr 2012 20,138 posts	0 Velociraptor In my case, Lord Fetch put out a very-last-minute call for a 7mm pacer for the Silverstone Half a few years ago, I encouraged my husband to volunteer, and he was a bit cheeky and asked if the deal could include a race number for me. Lord Fetch was supposed to be pacing 9mm but said he was feeling a little lurgified and offered me his place. I had a great day out at a race I wouldn't have considered entering You probably need to approach individual race organisers and offer your services.
Mark J Apr 2012 5:17pm, 23 Apr 2012 1,121 posts	0 Mark J Presumably, they are only the norm at half and above distances?
clare1976 Apr 2012 5:22pm, 23 Apr 2012 1,946 posts	0 clare1976 Contro was pacing 3:30 yesterday at VLM (and a great job he did too!) - officially for RW. Not sure what the arrangement was, may be worth dropping him a mail to ask!
Lumsdoni Apr 2012 5:28pm, 23 Apr 2012 6,083 posts	0 Lumsdoni Didn't a pacer come in the top 5 at last years Berlin Marathon?
Lumsdoni Apr 2012 5:31pm, 23 Apr 2012 6,084 posts	0 Lumsdoni Second in fact! marathonguide.com
Mark J Apr 2012 5:37pm, 23 Apr 2012 1,122 posts	0 Mark J Good article, thanks. I think I have a way to go before i get to Geb's pace.
Foxy Davy Apr 2012 5:39pm, 23 Apr 2012 26,653 posts	0 Foxy Davy I dont think pacing 4.15 will scrape 2nd place ? I offered to do it & then recruit my mates mainly from the 10 in 10 & all bar two fetchies
Duchess Apr 2012 5:59pm, 23 Apr 2012 1,091 posts	0 Duchess Purely as an observer.... I can understand the concept of pacers for club runners who are targetting a specific time for their own personal sense of achievement and I've no issue with that all. But for "elite" runners or those competing for places at the sharp end? How can that be right or fair? So many of the Fetchie success stories yesterday generated compliments on how well the runner had paced themselves, etc. If you're an elite runner who's got somebody else doing that for you, doesn't that take away the mental skill required to manage yourself over distance? I know that they still have to actually run it, but it seems to take away half the challenge.
paul a Apr 2012 6:03pm, 23 Apr 2012 9,211 posts	0 paul a Essentially it all comes down to money. The big races are in competition with each other to attract the best runners for the elite race. The reputation of the race is based on times recorded and this is where the pacers help to guarantee results by running the pace requested by the athletes (race organizers).