There is also a six percent power savings drafting the pacer in running.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35834628/
That translates to a 3-6 minute benefit in a marathon.
A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
41–50 of 203 posts
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#42The article uses the term pacer and rabbit but never really explained what function exactly this type of runner performed for the race organizers. They only alluded to this when mentioning other runners depending on the pacer. A little confused who the intended reader for this article is. I had to follow up with a Wikipedia search where just the usage of the term “pacemaker” or “pacesetter” made things more clear.
What confused me initially was who was paying him. I went into the article assuming he was pacing for a specific runner or team -- a bit like the teammate cyclist who is tasked with being in front so other cyclists can draft behind him the the Tour de France . So even though the article did mention a race organizer approaching him, I missed that. Do the race organizers request a specific pace knowing what they know a…
From the article,
> Meet directors pay him
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#43This service is a "PED" for elite runners. Kipchoge broke the marathon WR with a team of fresh runners to draft off of.[0] [0] https://www.colorado.edu/today/2022/10/06/drafting-can-save-...
That run isn’t and never has been considered the marathon WR for that and other reasons
It's important to distinguish between the Breaking2/INEOS pacing (with a rotating team of pacemakers that drop in and out of the race) and the pacing that has been allowed in every world record (pacemakers that start with the field, but may drop out, as does Sowinski in his own pacing).
In fact Kipchoge's legal world record (the 2:01:09, not the 1:59) had pacemakers for the first 25km (of 42.2).
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#44I went to school with Alan Webb [1]. We were all essentially rabbits to him. I’ve never seen someone run so fast, for so long of a distance, in such a short time. He went on to have an amazing career, obviously. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Webb_(runner)
Oh wow that would be amazing. Did you actually run with him?
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#45In an amateur context, I've paced about a half dozen races, half marathon and marathon distance. I've also served as a pacer for runners in the second half of a 100 mile race a couple times.
The purpose of a pacer for amateur runners is to set a consistent pace and provide encouragement to runners who may be running their first race at that distance. Or maybe someone trying to set a new PR. Since most courses are not flat, I actually try to run even effort, and explain that is the plan to the runners I'm pacing. So we slow down on the uphills and speed up a bit on the downhills.
Yes, runners can use a variety of electronic devices (GPS watches, heart rate monitors, accelerometers on your shoe) to try to set their own pace but none of these are perfect. They also require constant attention. And they don't provide moral support.
Even though I'm a fairly experienced runner (25+ marathons), I'll join a pace group myself when running a new course sometimes. A marathon can be mentally exhausting and it's sort of like being able to run on cruise control if you can just fall in next to someone else and rely on them to set pace.
Running in a pack is also just easier, not even considering the wind breaking potential depending upon speed and prevailing breeze.
On the 100 mile races, runners may have been on their feet for 12+ hours by the midway point and are starting to run into the night. Pacing those runners is really just about moral support and encouragement. Typically they are allowed to pickup a pacer after the 50 mile mark and I'll keep a single runner company for say a 12.5 mile lap and then they can switch to another fresh pacer. So they may get the company of 3-4 pacers in the second half of the race.
Another example is that large marathons have guide runners to help those who need assistance. Visually impaired runners. Maybe runners with prosthetics who are concerned about being tripped. Etc. I've never been a guide runner but I'd like to some day.
Pacing the 1:50 group in a half marathon:
https://i.ibb.co/4gRTjjT/FCC9720-D-4-E4-E-4-F74-91-EF-2-FCB2...
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
What confused me initially was who was paying him. I went into the article assuming he was pacing for a specific runner or team -- a bit like the teammate cyclist who is tasked with being in front so other cyclists can draft behind him the the Tour de France . So even though the article did mention a race organizer approaching him, I missed that. Do the race organizers request a specific pace knowing what they know a…
From the article, > Meet directors pay him
Right, I was saying I somehow missed that because it wasn't a salient part of the article, and also (more importantly, probably) I read the first half assuming something else, so my brain probably skipped over something that didn't confirm my belief.
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#47The article uses the term pacer and rabbit but never really explained what function exactly this type of runner performed for the race organizers. They only alluded to this when mentioning other runners depending on the pacer. A little confused who the intended reader for this article is. I had to follow up with a Wikipedia search where just the usage of the term “pacemaker” or “pacesetter” made things more clear.
What confused me initially was who was paying him. I went into the article assuming he was pacing for a specific runner or team -- a bit like the teammate cyclist who is tasked with being in front so other cyclists can draft behind him the the Tour de France . So even though the article did mention a race organizer approaching him, I missed that. Do the race organizers request a specific pace knowing what they know a…
Usually the race organizers pay well-known runners to appear, and may put incentives (dollars) for given times.
Based on these incentives and discussions with the runners (and coaches) the pace the pacesetters run is set.
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
If the watch also measured the distance you’ve travel, is pace not just distance over time? Speaking of wearable, pacemakers serve a different purpose, so the term is ambiguous I’m sure you run then, because again I have no idea what you mean by “splits”
Yes and no. In theory, you can pace yourself with a watch and a map. “Splits” are (distance, time) pairs that correspond to a targeted finish time. For example, if you were targeting a 4:00 finish at an even pace, you’d want to be crossing the halfway point at 2:00. In practice, it’s mentally much easier to pace yourself off another person. The implicit peer pressure to stay with the pack helps when you might otherwi…
It's worth noting that many GPS exercise watches have a "virtual pacesetter" where you set the pace you want given a route and it will show a graphical representation of how far ahead or behind you are.
eg: https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/forerunner245/EN-US/...
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#49Here is the race the article references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lqa36sQhmg BTW it's career suicide for a rabbit to keep running and try to win the race
Why?
Re: A runner who leads every pack and then vanishes
#50Here is the race the article references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lqa36sQhmg BTW it's career suicide for a rabbit to keep running and try to win the race
Why?
presumably if your "career" is to help other runners get better times, and you beat them, you're fired, your career as a rabbit is over. But of course, your career as a runner is just starting!