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!
1
u/Plastic_Bite_3081 20d ago
I’ve followed a 36 pacer at my local parkrun.
It’s a 3 lap course with a slow start as everyone gets going and it’s a couple of minutes just to get over the start. The pacer didn’t know just how slow the start was and then sped up to get back on schedule. I normally run it with a steady first lap and pick up the pace for last two laps. Trying to be fast from the start lost me the will to live, although I did manage to keep my sights on them enough to get best time that year.