As a pacer you have a great responsibility. After all, the runner puts his or her trust in you.
As a pacer you have extensive experience in running marathons. You must be able to run the designated time with ease. You know yourself, you know what you can do and, more importantly, you know what you cannot do. Your finish time as a pacer is therefore at least 20 to 30 minutes slower than what you normally run on a marathon. For fast times (3.00, 3.10 and 3.15) you can run at least 15 minutes faster.
However, the ‘profession’ of pacing involves more than just setting the pace. Therefore as a pacer you are expected to:
- Put the runners at ease at the start of the race.
- Before the start, indicate whether there will be a stop or delay at a care post.
- The drinking breaks are determined and monitored from the start exactly on schedule.
- Motivate and coach the runners while running.
- Keep an eye on those can’t keep up with the pace. Advice them to run at their own pace.
- The atmosphere in the group is being monitored.
- If necessary: correct a runner who hinders other runners
- If necessary: try telling a runner who wastes his / her energy to stop doing so.
- Being able to handle the emotions of runners. Running a marathon is a demanding event and for most people a huge task or achievement.
- Is aware that he / she is not running for him/herself but for the organization.
- Finishes with a margin of up to one minute faster. •
- Afterwards: evaluate the course of events with the DPT.
Do you want to become a pacer and do you meet the characteristics as above mentioned? Then register via the application form on this site or send an e-mail to info@dutchpacingteam.nl .
An please inform us:
• Whether you want to become a pacer on the full or half marathon.
• Which finishing times you can guarantee on the full and / or half marathon.
• How many full and/ or half marathons you have finished.
• Whether you have any experience as a pacer.
• The finishing times of your last three full and / or half marathons.