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Jul 2022
9:38am, 5 Jul 2022
3,113 posts
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B Rubble
Sorry, *7,000 posts*
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Jul 2022
9:52am, 5 Jul 2022
12,877 posts
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jda
7000 years 
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Jul 2022
10:29am, 5 Jul 2022
867 posts
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njosmith
There were 3 10 pacers (which I think is unusual?) But they went off at 3 08 pace. Is that common? 2 minutes doesn't sound much but it is 5 seconds per mile quicker.
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Jul 2022
10:32am, 5 Jul 2022
3,114 posts
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B Rubble
I don't think it's unusual njo. I suppose they want to make sure everyone running with them is within the time, including those that may have started ahead of them.
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Jul 2022
10:37am, 5 Jul 2022
12,882 posts
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jda
Not even sure I see the point of pacers in a big marathon, they seem to cock it up quite regularly. I’ve always found people to run with by just heading off and adjusting my pace to about the right level. Of course I get it wrong sometimes too
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Jul 2022
10:42am, 5 Jul 2022
18,207 posts
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larkim
In praise of the Chester marathon pacers, they were my saviours for my first marathon as they ran bang on for pace and stopped me going too fast; I used them as road block to stop me pushing on through.
But I do agree, if you're intending on running with a pacing group you also need to watch your own pace, and perhaps talk to the pacers on the line to find out if they are going for a subtle +ve or -ve split or some nuanced approach to the course whcih may not fit with the way you want to run. You can't blame the pacers for the way you run the race.
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Jul 2022
10:47am, 5 Jul 2022
2,055 posts
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Brunski
Remember 3hr York pacers one year getting it horribly wrong. Luckily I wasn't really running with them for much but trying to stay ahead of them toward the end (sort of as a safety blanket).
They didn't get near me despite me having to sprint the last 400m or so to just dip under in 2:59:45.
Pretty sure one dropped out and the other limped in at about 3:40 after being 1:28ish at halfway.
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Jul 2022
12:35pm, 5 Jul 2022
23,017 posts
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Bazoaxe
I have run with the 3hr pacers twice at Chester and they were great and helped me to regulate my pace. My failure to break 3hrs ultimately was my own issue.
One year one of the two pacers did drop off about 20 miles and it was clear to me about 10 miles in he was struggling. the other guy though jogged round bang on pace.
I have never run with the pacers at London but have seen some dubious efforts there being way too fast.
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Jul 2022
1:28pm, 5 Jul 2022
4,989 posts
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Oscar the Grouch
Certainly at Newport the 3.30 pacers have been all over the place, often within the same mile. Fine for those with the fitness to do it, not so much if you are trying to keep an even pace!
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Jul 2022
2:45pm, 5 Jul 2022
1,833 posts
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Big_G
I did Chelmsford marathon which I paced evenly for 3:29. The 3:30 bus steamed past me, but I overtook a few that dropped off in the last 10K. I never use a pacer personally, as I find that I may speed up or slow down very slightly on inclines/declines and I would find it really frustrating not being able to run freely at my own pace.
I’ve had it the other way though. I was hoping for 3:15 and was ahead of that pace bus at Barcelona. I started struggling and they overtook me at about 20 miles, which was very demoralising!
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