Does using a pacer make you a cheater?
Tomorrow I am running a local 5K, and one of the Grayslake Running Club members offered to come pace me, and help me PR.
Hells to the yeah. A 5K PR for me would be an easy conversational run for him. Count me in!
Is that cheating though – purposefully having someone pace you to run a 5K?
The Guy in the white shirt is a pacer
Photo Credit: Greg Kellerman
In my mind, having one specific faster person pace you for 5K seems a bit different than following a pace group for a half marathon or a full marathon, or running with someone with the intent to push each other to a goal time. But, elite marathoners sometimes have pacers at their races (check out a Runner’s World thread discussing it here) – someone to keep them on track and block some of the wind. Of course, their goal is to win entire races, not necessarily PR at the recreational level (like me).
But one of the benefits of running with other people is that it makes you run faster. And in the end, it’s your legs that run the whole race. So I think pacers are okay.
But what do you guys think about pacers?
Themocracy
I don’t think a pacer is cheating. In the end, you decide if you stay with the pacer or not. It’s still your race. It’s the same as using an armband with your splits on it – you’re the one that is responsible for hitting those splits, not the armband, not the pacer.
Good luck!
Thanks, Kim!
I agree – it’s an extra tool to help you reach your goal. Can’t wait to hear how you do! Good luck!
No not cheating. I never knew the elite’s had pacers. That’s interesting. It just seems like it would crowd the field ya know? I mean I get cranky on the road if things start to bottleneck but when they are all grouped together like a school of fish that’s got to be more annoying.
I think they prefer to run like that, and alternate taking the lead and who is running in to the wind. They like their little pack 🙂
If the Kenyans can do it, you can too! I think it is awesome someone from your club offered. Good luck tomorrow– race fast! 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
I’m with everyone else. It’s still YOU who is running the race, you whose muscles alone reached the finish line. Unless the pacer carries you – that’s cheating! 😉
I don’t think it cheating. Today I ran a 5 Mile race with two other girls and we used each other to help pace each other. The elites do it all the time too.
Cool! How did you do, speedy? 🙂
I think pacers are A-okay!! I feel like a pacer just provides the motivation, while you provide the legs/heart work :>
Definitely NOT cheating – like others have said, it’s a tool.
And you are SO going to PR tomorrow!
I think having a pacer at our level is like having a really good friend running with you 🙂 Did you know that for the elites who run Chicago sometimes the race director has a difficult time finding people to be pacers? Apparently it’s not easy to find people who can run a 10K distance at an elite marathon pace!
I was thinking the same thing – like a really good friend. 😉
I cannot believe the director has to find the pacers! The elites don’t do it themselves? It’s so bizarre. I would like to learn more about the whole elite pacer situation.
Chicago does indeed supply the pacers for the elites and very often the pacers are elite runners themselves who also win marathons and get paid to be pacer.
Past two years I’ve done some work for the marathon picking up elites from O’Hare. Didn’t get anyone famous in 2010 but I did in 2009.
http://denalifc.blogspot.com/search?q=sammy
And to answer your question Kim. Having a pacer is not cheating providing they have paid their race entry fee. Now in the marathon people do jump in last 6-10 miles to pace or run friends in. That is a bigger debate and yes I did do it once for a mid pack friend, but only once.
I really never got the controversy about this one…it’s not like the pacer carries you. It’s still you running and whatever helps you do better without doing it for you is totally fine by me! Go Kim…Good Luck 🙂
I don’t think it’s cheating. It’s just another form of motivation. I’ve never had a pacer but I have paced before. It’s fun.
I definitely do not think that using a pacer is cheating! You cover the distance. It’s not like you’re asking someone to wear your number for you.
That being said, I understand how some people think/feel like it’s less of an accomplishment because someone else did the “hard” pacing work.
…but I still don’t think it’s cheating, and I would, in no way, think any less of you if you ran a PR with a pacer. 🙂
Hmmmm….I guess I’ve never really thought about it! I suppose in the end, if it’s your legs doing the work, that is all that matters….right? I wish I were cool enough to be a Pacer – what a FUN job.
I’m all for it. The pros use them in distances from 1mi all the way to the marathon (and especially even further!).
It’s kind of silly to see at a 1 mile because it’s on a track and the ‘pace bunny’ drops out after 3 laps. Most elite marathon pacers drop after 20 miles or so.
Adam paced me for my current 5k PR too, which was awesome! and, I saw you PR’ed at the 5k (CONGRATS!) so I guess it worked!
NO, NOT a cheater at all. Anything the pros use is fine by me. In fact, just like Lauren says, almost all distances longer than 400M has pace bunnies anymore. (The major marathons do for the elietes)