Pacer Tips

I have paced several marathons and halves, and I wanted to share some tips I’ve learned along the way. Please share your own tips and advice below in the discussion to help each other out. If you disagree with anything or have a different approach, also feel free to share!

When I pace, we are required to get up to a minute below our times (3:30 pacer can finish from 3:29-3:30:00), so I usually aim for the minute below goal time plus account for an extra .1 when I calculate my pacing time. I let the group of runners know why I’m doing this.

Rarely have I been lucky enough to pace a course where even splits make sense, so instead I go to the website Find my Marathon and calculate based on even effort. This has saved me, especially in very hilly courses or courses which involve trails and road. I also communicate to participants so they don’t panic (“we will go slightly slower up this hill, but don’t worry; it should feel like an even effort and is calculated into our plan” or “this mile is downhill, so we will be at a faster pace, but the effort should feel similar”).

I account for aide stations and go much slower through them. I reassure participants that they will still make their time and that taking water and nutrition is important. Many have given me feedback that they were rushing or skipping these before. If I can, I grab an extra gel or two in case someone needs one.

I remind people that they should feel comfortable and relaxed for a lot of the race. I typically tell newbies to stay with a group they feel comfortable with and at a pace where they’re breathing comfortably until at least mile 20, and they can break away from there if they feel up for it…but if not, they will still make pace if they stay with the group. At mile 20, I tell them that these last miles are supposed to feel hard, and to stick with it. But of course I let people run their races and just share this generally to the group in an encouraging manner.

I don’t talk a ton, but I do like to ask who is running their first marathon and share brief encouragement or info about the course as it feels appropriate. Some people like to chat, and others are quiet, so I let the group dictate this.

I’m always really honored at how relieved people are to have pacers. I get as nervous (in a different way) pacing than racing, but it’s a really fun way to experience a course and give back to the running community. It also makes me realize how cool what runners are doing is!

What tips do you have for pacers?