The Running Thread - 2018

[rteetz]

QOTD: A fellow poster suggested todays question, so thank you for the idea! Lets discuss running a race with a pace group. What are the pros and cons of running with a pace group?

During a Disney race a con would be no photo stops. Pro would be getting the finish time you want. I’ve never done it and never would for a Disney race.

 

[GollyGadget]

QOTD: A fellow poster suggested todays question, so thank you for the idea! Lets discuss running a race with a pace group. What are the pros and cons of running with a pace group?

I've personally never ran with a pace group but I have kept tabs on them to make sure I was still on track. I don't really enjoy running in a large pack so that's my main deterrent. They're also usually just volunteers so their pacing ability can vary widely.

My husband was just asking me why pacers were still a thing last weekend. His argument: most people run with GPS nowadays and can pace themselves. However, I can still see how they'd be beneficial in a race where GPS isn't reliable or you really wanted some extra support.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Attqotd: No because I hate people and those crowds are too large along with the fact they annoyed me with this pushy corral behavior too many times

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD:
I've used pacers 3 different times and each time they served a purpose for me. I've been lucky enough to have very good pacers.

1. In late 2016, I ran a half marathon (Bowling Green, KY) 4 weeks after the Chicago marathon. I didn't really have a goal and wasn't sure how I'd do. I chose to try a pacer for the first time because a) I was curious if I'd like it and b) because I really had no specific goal and this seemed like a good time to try. I stayed with the pacer to about halfway and realized I was more race ready than I thought so I picked up the pace a bit. Had a very good and relaxed race... almost PR'd without trying.
2. In late 2017, I ran a full marathon (Indy) 4 weeks after running a rough Chicago marathon. I signed up for this race at the last minute as a bit of redemption from Chicago. My goal was to try and break 4 hours... so decided I'd run with the 4 hour pace group. Ironically the pacer was the same guy as I paced with in #1 above. Very random. Anyways, I essentially stayed with this group the whole time until maybe the last mile or 2 when I was able to pick up my pace a little more and finish in 3:58:xx.
3. At Chicago this year I wanted to PR. Previous PR was 3:49:xx. Theoretically I trained for a 3:35 this year, but knew everything would have to be perfect to actually race at that level. Weather was a bit warmer/humid than I like, so knew I probably couldn't get to 3:40 but hopefully could PR. A friend of mine was in my corral. I was VERY concerned he was going to talk me into running with him and doing something dumb. I like to start slow, he likes to gamble a bit. Anyways, we met in the corral and he mentioned running with the 3:45 group and I figured that might be a nice compromise. I let the group be a little ahead of me for the first few miles, but I was always near them. In the middle of the race, I passed them but just enough to allow me to "slow down" some occasionally to mix up my pace. (Chicago is very flat and I like to mix my pace occasionally just to change things up for my legs). Anyways, by mile 19-20 I was running WITH the group. It was still a very strong group. The pacers were fantastic. They would announce exactly how far ahead of pace we were each mile (e.g., "mile 16, time of x:xx:xx, 24 seconds ahead of pace"). In addition, they often announced the neighborhood and maybe said something about it. They were also very good about reminding people to hydrate even if they didn't think they "needed it". At any rate, it was very helpful in the last several miles to have the group. DJs at mile markers were announcing pace groups, so I feel like we had extra crowd support. There were 2-3 late miles that I really NEEDED the pacers to keep me rolling. I barely even remember Michigan Avenue, aside from being hunkered down in that group and noticing another runner really struggling but being encouraged by one of our pacers (she finished under 3:45 and had a wonderful emotional post race moment with the pacer). With less than 1/2 mile to go I just took off with whatever I had left. I finished with a PR of 3:44:00 (didn't lean enough to get under, lol). The race was tough, and I don't think I could've run that time in Chicago without the pacers. Oh and my friend (who's actually faster than me) decided he felt good mid-race and sorta took off on his own. I actually passed him in the last mile (unknown to me) and beat him by more than a minute as he was crashing pretty badly. Good pacing certainly help me.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: I used a pace group for 18-20 miles during Rocket City Marathon Last Year. This group was small, maybe 8 people after the first couple of miles. It got me a 38 minute PR and sub-4 for the first time.

I've also latched on to a pace group when I was having a bad day. And one time I let a pace group (of 1 at this point) 'goose' me to a PR. The pacer told me how much of a cushion he had so I knew I needed to beat him by about 30 seconds to get a PR. I'd slow down, he'd catch up, I'd step on the gas (Prius-style @camaker), I'd pull ahead, and we'd repeat it.

Pros: Leave the pacing to them, allowing you to concentrate on something else (or nothing), strength in numbers, pass time by chatting with other members of the group, wind block on windy days.

Cons: It can get crowded at water stops. You may have an annoying person in the group.

I would definitely use a pace group again, especially when going for a PR and/or a magic number. Most of my pace group experience has been in smaller races, not at Disney. I would be hesitant to use a pace group at a large event due to crowding.

 

[avondale]

ATTQOTD: I've run with pace groups three times and have liked them. (When I haven't, it's because they haven't been available or I'm too in-between group times.) I liked being able to chat with other runners in the group, which got my mind off of monitoring my pace constantly. It's funny that I like that, because for my training runs, I definitely prefer to run alone.

I agree with what some others have said about talking to the pace group leader ahead of time to find out their pacing strategy and how they'll handle the aid stations.

 

[LdyStormy76]

ATTQOTD:

ATTQOTD: I have never ran with a pace group, but I would consider it if I was looking to PR and wanted to make sure it happened. But MAN can those pace groups at runDisney events get annoying with their intervals and the crowds of people who follow them. Passing large pass groups is the pits.

This. I wanted to be with the 3 hour pace group for my first half marathon this past January but wasn't able to get to them in the corral. When I finally caught up to them coming out of Magic Kingdom I tried to stick with them but the group was way to big for the course and I wasn't comfortable with everything so finally managed to get around them. Even without them I managed to finish under 3 hours.

Also, the person who said a lot of it depends on the pacer is spot on. At the Chicago Hot Chocolate 15k there were "pacers". DH was with me when we caught up to the woman with the 14:00 sign and I commented to her that either we were really fast or she was slower than pace. She said we were fast, but about a block later she took off like a firecracker and we didn't see her again until going past the Field Museum when she was running in place, killing time, holding her sign.

I like the theory behind the pace groups, just not sure I'd ever be able to manage being with one.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: I think pace groups are a really good thing, but as someone who runs intervals, I don't think they are for me. I like them as a point of reference, but just have never ran with one.

 

[rteetz]

ATTQOTD: I think pace groups are a really good thing, but as someone who runs intervals, I don't think they are for me. I like them as a point of reference, but just have never ran with one.

Some races like runDisney have pace groups that run intervals.

 

[DustyWA]

ATTQOTD: Normally, I use the pace groups as a visual indication of how I'm doing for pace, but I never run with them. Yesterday was the closest I've ever been to running with them. I was dragging the last few miles of my marathon and the 3:25 pacers passed me up just before mile 26. It gave me the motivation to get back up to speed for the last quarter mile instead of coasting.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Some races like runDisney have pace groups that run intervals.

Right- just not the intervals I run! And I think that trying new intervals on race day would be a really bad idea!

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: I have never run with a pace group in a race but have tried to either catch up to or make sure a certain pace group doesn’t catch me. I am glad that races have them, especially for people who have a certain goal in mind. I echo what a few others have said that it can be rough gettting overtaken or trying to get around pace groups at RunDisney events. I’ve seen what looks like the group taking up the entire road. There have been a few times where I’ve felt like I was being forced into the grass just because the groups were so big and it was the only way to get around them.

 

[LSUlakes]

Some races like runDisney have pace groups that run intervals.

I was unaware that Disney had official pace groups at all. I'm guessing that info is on the runDisney site?

 

[rteetz]

I was unaware that Disney had official pace groups at all. I'm guessing that info is on the runDisney site?

Disney has always had official pace groups. A few years ago they switched to Galloway pacers.

 

[Miranda]

I was unaware that Disney had official pace groups at all. I'm guessing that info is on the runDisney site?

Not sure if the info is on the site, but they used to have official Clif pace groups, but they changed over to Galloway pace groups I think last year?

 

[GreatLakes]

I have never used a pace group myself but a few of my friends pace our local marathon. I know they take it seriously and go for even splits adjusted for the course profile.

If you normally go out too fast and it costs you later in the race I could see it being beneficial.

 

[LSUlakes]

Disney has always had official pace groups. A few years ago they switched to Galloway pacers.

So all pace groups now are based on run / walk intervals?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

So all pace groups now are based on run / walk intervals?

At Disney, yes.

 

[LSUlakes]

At Disney, yes.

Learn something new everyday. Makes sense to have pacers using the methods per the training material available.

 

[FFigawi]

My husband was just asking me why pacers were still a thing last weekend. His argument: most people run with GPS nowadays and can pace themselves. However, I can still see how they'd be beneficial in a race where GPS isn't reliable or you really wanted some extra support.

Most people run with GPS, yes, but I don't think most people know how to pace themselves effectively. From choosing a pace without considering the extra time needed for not running perfect tangents to being unsure of negative vs even splits to trying to run completely blind to not wanting the pressure of having to monitor their pace, there are plenty of reasons people don't pace well and need pace groups. They're not for everyone, of course, but they are very useful and valuable.