You Are a PACER, Not a RACER
Today isn’t your day to shine. Every step you take fuels someone else’s dream — and you are far more than just a timer.
Read articlePacer Academy · ML Pacer Coaching
Pace with purpose.
Guide every runner home.
Practical, field-tested guidance for non-elite race pacers and organisers — from recruitment and training to race day and beyond.
The pacer journey
Everything a pacer needs, step by step
Follow the path from your first application to the post-race celebration, or jump straight to the topic you need.
- 01 Pacing Philosophy The mindset behind great pacing: you are a pacer, not a racer. 3 articles →
- 02 Pacer Recruitment Who makes a good pacer, pacing buffers and pacer commitment. 2 articles →
- 03 Watches & Technology Watch settings, GPS accuracy and Garmin-specific tips. 4 articles →
- 04 Pacer Training Group sessions, team formation and example training sessions. 15 articles →
- 05 Race Day Logistics, on-course strategy and what to do when things go wrong. 8 articles →
- 06 After the Race Returning kit, FIT file submission and celebrating together. 1 article →
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Essential reading
Who Can Be a Pacer? Understanding the Pacing Buffer
Being fast isn’t enough. Pacers must be able to run meaningfully faster than their group’s target pace — here is how big that buffer should be.
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Your Watch Is Just a Tool
Pacers rely heavily on their watches — but a flat battery or GPS glitch shouldn’t derail your race. Know your pace and your plan by heart.
Read articleCore Training Principles
Pacing is the art of energy management, environmental adaptation and tactical control. Every training session follows four foundational rules.
Read articlePacing Without Using a Watch
Watches fail. Every pacer must be able to hold target pace by feel and verify it against the official course markers — here’s how to train it.
Read articlePacing in Heat and Humidity
In tropical climates, heat and humidity are the biggest outside factors on race day. How heat affects pacing, how to prepare, and the warning signs of heat illness.
Read articleClose your eyes. Remember the wow-effect of your first marathon — the joy of crossing that finish line. Now, be that feeling for someone else.
Library
Latest articles
Core Training Principles
Pacing is the art of energy management, environmental adaptation and tactical control. Every training session follows four foundational rules.
Read articleRelative Pace Offsets
Remember one number — your target pace — and apply simple plus or minus offsets. Includes a worked example session for a 4:15 marathon group.
Read articlePacing Without Using a Watch
Watches fail. Every pacer must be able to hold target pace by feel and verify it against the official course markers — here’s how to train it.
Read articlePacing With a Watch: Compass and Steering Wheel
Average pace is your compass, lap pace your steering wheel. Plus: why your watch measures the race longer than its official distance — and what that means for your pace.
Read articleCadence Consistency
A stable cadence gives runners a smooth rhythm to lock onto. Change pace through your stride, not your rhythm.
Read articleAdjusting Pace Smoothly: The Inverted Interval Session
Abrupt speed changes cost your runners energy they need later. Learn to return to schedule gradually — and how fast a race-day correction may be.
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