RW

Hilly · August 2002

I know it's early to start thinking about pacers and the actual race, but is there any chance of having pacers at the Green start (good for age)this year? Maybe one each for 3.45, 3.30 and 3.00 hrs?

Hilly · August 2002

If you say so geezer! Been training hard then?

Haven't seen any threads from you recently, warm weather training was it?

Sean Fishpool · September 2002

I'm sorry Hilly, I never did reply.

Rather than making promises we couldn't keep, I have to say the chances of adding more pacers is slim. We'd love to, but it's already hard to keep a 16-strong team of tried and trusted pacers going.

We'll certainly talk it over though, when we come to plan next year's groups.

Sean, RW

[Deleted User] · September 2002

Sean,

I would be particularly interested if you or one of your RW colleagues could tell me the exact splits of last year's sub 4 hour pacing group.

This sort of time is my ambition for FLM 2003 (I was 20 minutes outside it this year)
and want to know more about the theory and practice of your pacing groups especially re. the splits.

Can you help me so I know what I will be letting myself in for next year?

Thanks,
Sterling

[Deleted User] · September 2002

so you're planning next year's race then hilly.............! that's what we like to see (sorry, only teasing!)

[Deleted User] · September 2002

yep, pacer blokes...

do you still aim for sub 4 on the clock or sub four for 26 miles and 384 yards?

very interested to know since i guess it might change your pacing plan

cheers

[Deleted User] · September 2002

Wolfie, we always aim for sub 4 on the clock and adjust the pace according to how long it takes each pacer to cross the start line, based on what happened last year.

The upshot of this is that we always run at a faster pace to get under our target times at London than you would expect to at less busy marathons. We also aim to try and get 2-3 minutes under target time. This gives our pacers a comfort zone to allow for the busy conditions or loo stops.

[Deleted User] · September 2002

thanks for this so for e.g. a sub four run, might actually run in 3.53??

5 mins to cross the line plus a couple of minutes "safety"

- can you remember if it is done at even pace - i.e. 2 x 1.56?

[Deleted User] · September 2002

Artgod - thanks for this - much appreciated. Can you (or Sean or whoever) advise us on the splits?

1. What is the answer to WWR's question re splits?

2. If it is not exactly even, would the pacing group intend to do parts of the race (eg. second half or a particular 10k stretch) at a faster pace than others?

I am as much intrigued by the psychological versus physical aspects of breaking a particular target as anything else. Put another way, is it better mentally to, say, have a couple of minutes spare by the time you cross the halfway mark (psychologically comforting) or is it better to run a slower first half thereby keeping "gas in the tank" for the second?

Thanks.

I might post this on a different forum to see if I get any more responses.

Looking

[Deleted User] · September 2002

We work out our paces based on the time taken to cross the line from last year's race and so will finalise this nearer the time, ie January when we start to publish our schedules in mag.

But just for interest here were our proposed target times for sub 4 at the 2002 marathon

Estimated Target times
(inc time lost at start)
10K: 60 mins
10M: 93 mins
Halfway: 2:01
20M: 3:02
Finish: 3:58

Our pacers always aim to do a faster 2nd half.

Hilly · September 2002

Thanks for answering Sean.

Cep I was just wondering as there was interest last year about pacers at green start. Then again maybe my subconscious is planning for me!

Snoop Dogg · September 2002

Hey Russ; question(s) -

Bugger the pacing, what I want to know is:-

1. How do you get so many piccies into the frame?
2. How do you get them to change like that?
3. Can I have that too?
4. Is that a pic. of Ozzie Ozbourne, or you after a long day stuck at the VDU?

and Hilly, who is this Sean you were talking about?

Snoop Dogg · September 2002

p.s. hilly - you don't need to reply as I've just found out.

[Deleted User] · September 2002

Snoop

1. I'm not called Artgod for nothing.
2. I move in mysterious ways.
3. Perk of the job, but I had to forego the company car.
4. Hey it's 10.00pm and I'm still at work, where are you?

[Deleted User] · September 2002

Geezer, before the new forum went live I had a nosey around the old one and I have to admit that you really did put me off bothering again! I do hope you have something more constructive to add to this new forum after your rather refreshing absence.

[Deleted User] · May 2005

This message will probably get lost in the ether, but I have been meaning to write since the marathon. I started from the green start and was doing steady 8 min mile pace only to be stampeeded by the sub 3.30 RW pacing group. Several of us were pushed out of the way and i ended up on the floor. Thankfully i just got up and carried on running, i didn't realise until later that i'd gashed my knee requiring a couple of stitches. I finished in 3.29, so very pleased. Still, the pacer in question was encouraging inconsiderate and irresponsible behaviour from presumably less experienced runners which is hardly in the spirit of the FLM and could have caused more serious injury.