It takes much more to be a pacer—the designated leaders who help a group hit their goal time—than being fast. A pacer has to be entirely comfortable at their assigned average speed, run as evenly as possible, and assume all the stress of monitoring split times. They evaluate course congestion, elevation, and yep, even bathroom breaks to get their followers to the line on time without surging, all while doing complex mental math. (You try long division at mile 24.) RW’s 2017 London Marathon pace team shares what it’s like to run with dozens of people counting on them for guidance, inspiration, and steadiness.
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Pacers’ Top Gear Picks
Shannon Price has finished more than 70 marathons, and paced 35 of them around the country. He typically leads the 3:15 finishers group. Here’s the gear he brings on race day
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We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back Runner’s World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.
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Best Timing Watches
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