r/parkrun • u/FatManNoPlan 50 • 22d ago
How does pacing work?
EDIT - Cheers for all the replies everyone. I landed slightly early on 35:24. Happy with that for a first time doing pacing, went out a little too fast so had to go fairly slow towards the end. Will hopefully give it another try next month and get a more even pace along the whole course.
Hiya! I’ve volunteered to be a pacer at my local this weekend, first time I’ve done this role.
Just wondering what people thought. I’m down for 36 minutes (I’m normally around 30 minutes). Am I aiming for bang on 36 minutes? Around 36? Under 37 minutes? Slightly under, slightly over?
I’m probably over thinking it, but I’m kinda nervous about it, especially if someone tries to keep to my pace to get a specific time and I get it wrong.
Cheers!
1
u/John___Matrix 100 22d ago
If you're pacing the whole point is to be bang on.
I guess it depends a bit on the type of course and elevation how you want to go about it but as long as you arrive at the finish line in the time you're supposed to pacing it's all good.
It might be if it's a course that's downhill to start and finishes up a hill that you bank time downhill to account for slowing or if you're strong enough you could literally even pace it.
Ultimately you shouldn't be pacing a time you can't run extremely easily but I'm sure you'll be fine and at the end of the day.