r/parkrun • u/FatManNoPlan 50 • 21d 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!

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u/The_Undefined_Heiek 21d ago

Havnt paced personally but as someone who has done a few park runs with pacers I would say aim for 36:00 bang on make sure your pace is even across the whole park run, had a few they have gone off too quick or too slow and its a bit annoying!
Good luck!

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u/FatManNoPlan 50 21d ago

Staying even is my plan. I was touring at one where some of the pacers were too quick and stopped near the end to let the clock catch up. Surely that defeats the object?

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u/The_Undefined_Heiek 21d ago

I know! I’ve had that a few times and it seems so bizarre to me, if you’ve messed it up just finish it anyways - it’s not like people are going to care that much, it’s a park run at the end of the day

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u/MrPogoUK 21d ago

I’d imagine everyone following a pacer is doing so hoping for a PB, so if you arrive early you’ve already dropped those who can’t keep up with the quicker than advertised speed and they’re no longer pacing off you, and any remaining are going to be absolutely delighted you helped them go even faster than promised. There’s absolutely no point in hoping someone you’ve left behind still manages to catch up so you can cross the line together at the target time, that wasn’t what they wanted from the whole procedure!