Various sports are very popular nowadays. Particular attention is paid to mass races, half marathons and marathons.
More and more people take part in them every year, and the organizers strive to make such competitions more interesting and well organized. To participate in such competitions, so-called pacemakers are usually involved. Read about who these people are, what their functions are and how to become pacemakers in this material.
What is a pacemaker?
"Pacemaker" from the English word pacemaker is translated as "pacemaker". Otherwise, we can say that this is a runner who leads and sets the overall pace at medium and long distances. As a rule, these are distances from 800 meters or more.
Pacemakers, as a rule, run along with the rest of the participants for a certain segment of the running distance. For example, if the distance is eight hundred meters, then, usually, the pacemaker runs from four hundred to six hundred meters, and then leaves the treadmill.
Typically, such a runner is a professional athlete. He immediately becomes a leader in the course of the race, and the pace can be set both for an individual participant in the competition, whom he wants to bring to a certain result, and for the whole group.
The competitors themselves say that the pacemaker provides, rather, psychological assistance: they run after him, knowing that they are adhering to a certain set speed. In addition, in a sense, the air resistance is less.
History
According to unofficial data, such leading athletes in the race have existed for as long as professional races have existed in general.
So, often athletes entered into agreements with other colleagues on their team that they would lead them to a certain result.
Directly as a running specialty, the “pacemaker” profession appeared in the 20th century, around the 80s. After that, she became popular, and the services of such people began to be used constantly.
For example, the famous Russian athlete Olga Komyagina has been a pacemaker since 2000. In addition, she is also a member of the Russian national team in the middle and long distance races.
It is worth noting that the use of such "artificial leaders" in the course of overcoming the distances causes great discussions between fans and professional sportsmen. So, they often criticize those athletes who achieve high results on the highway, provided they use help from pacemakers - representatives of the stronger sex during joint races of men and women.
Tactics
Pacemakers start in long and medium-distance races at a certain distance, setting a general pace and leading either an individual runner or an entire group to a specific goal. At the same time, they go to the finish line.
The rules of the International Organization of Athletics state that it is forbidden to use the help of pacemakers if you yourself are 1 or more laps behind during overcoming the distance.
There is also a rule according to which a pacemaker runs for a time that is half an hour (minimum) more than his personal best. This is a prerequisite, since the marathon distance itself should not be difficult for the pacemaker himself. The pacemaker is obliged to run this distance as confidently as possible.
When do pacemakers win?
This happens quite rarely. However, there were cases when pacemakers who did not leave the race became prize winners of competitions, and even winners.
- For example, pacemaker Paul Pilkington was the first to finish in the 1994 Los Angeles Marathon. He was able to keep the pace until the very finish that the favorites of the marathon could not withstand.
- At the 1981 Bislett Games, pacemaker Tom Byers also covered a distance of 1.5 kilometers faster than anyone else. The gap with the rest of the participants in the competition was initially ten seconds. However, even using acceleration, they could not catch up with the pacemaker. So, who finished the race second, lost half a second to him.
In this case, we can say that pacemakers, who are called upon to set the pace for runners, have not coped with their role.
Participation of pacemakers in mass competitions
Organizers of mass competitions, half marathons and marathons, in which many athletes of different levels of fitness, both amateurs and professionals, participate, often use the services of pacemakers.
Usually trained, seasoned athletes play their role. Their task is to run throughout the entire distance at the same pace, in order to reach the finish line at a certain time. For example, for a marathon, this is exactly three hours, three and a half, or exactly four hours.
Thus, not too experienced race participants are guided by the pace set by the pacemakers and their speed can be correlated with the result that they expect.
Usually such pacemakers wear special uniforms to be recognized. For example, vests in bright colors, or clothing with specific signs that make them stand out from the rest of the runners. Either they can run with flags, or with balloons, on which the result of the time to overcome the distance to which they strive is written.
How to become a pacemaker?
Unfortunately, there are not too many people who want to become pacemakers. This is a responsible business. In order to become a pacemaker, you need to contact the organizers of the competition: by mail, by phone, or come in person. It is advisable to do this a few months before the start, optimally - six months.
According to the feedback from pacemakers, the organizers usually respond to every request.
Often the organizers themselves invite certain athletes to the role of pacemakers.
Pacemaker reviews
So far, the Moscow Marathon in 2014 was my first and only experience of participation as a pacemaker. I wrote to the organizers, told about my sporting achievements - and they hired me.
At first, a huge crowd ran right behind me, I was even afraid to turn around. Then the people began to lag behind. Few started and finished with me.
I felt a tremendous responsibility. I forgot that I was running a marathon myself, thought about those who were running next to me, encouraged them and worried about them. During the race we discussed various issues about running and sang songs. After all, one of the tasks of the pacemaker is, among other things, psychological support for the participants.
Ekaterina Z., pacemaker of the 2014 Moscow Marathon
The organizers invited me to serve as a pacemaker through a mutual friend. We ran with a special flag, we had a running watch, by which we could check the results.
It should be noted that during all races, the pacemaker is a full-fledged participant in the marathon distance. Of course, he also receives a medal for this.
Grigory S., pacemaker of the 2014 Moscow Marathon.
Pacemakers are essential participants in mass competitions, no matter whether they are amateurs or professionals. They set the pace, guide specific athletes or entire groups of athletes to the results. And they also support the participants psychologically, you can even talk to them about sports topics.
