Pacing Groups At The Virgin London Marathon

Here's how to find us - and stick with us - among 35,000 runners

Posted: 21 April 2010

Once again, Runner's World invites you to enjoy the free pace groups that we lead around the Virgin London Marathon. All you need is an official race entry - you don't need to register with us separately.

We'll be leading six groups:

6:50-minute miling (just under a 3:00 marathon)
8:00 miling (just under 3:30)
9:00 miling (just under 4:00)
10:00 miling (just under 4:30)
11:00 miling (just under 5:00)
'Get You Round' (jogging pace, with a one-minute walk break after every five minutes).

How to find our pacers at the start

There'll be a pacer for each time band at both the blue and red starts. Each pacer will be in the start pen that corresponds to their target pace (see below), and they'll be holding up big boards showing their times.

Our pacers will be in the following start pens:

6:50/mile - pen number 1
8:00/mile - pen number 3
9:00/mile - pen number 5
10:00/mile - pen number 7
11:00/mile - pen number 9
Get-you-round - pen number 9

(The pen positions above are based on last year. They should be the same each year, but do check with us at the Marathon Expo beforehand).

If the time you predicted when you applied for the marathon is different from the actual time you want to hit with a pace group, you may find you've been allocated to a different start pen from your pacer. You'll have to go to your allotted pen and aim to meet the pace group as you run.

Who are the pacers?

Our pacers are experienced Runner's World staff and running friends. Many of them have been helping runners hit their time targets since we first paced the London Marathon in 1998.

Our timings and what they mean

Our pacers will be starting their watches at the start line. Why? Because your official race time is calculated from when you cross the start rather than when the gun is fired. It's good news for the pacers - it means they don't have to run extra-fast to make up the time they took to cross the start line - but it does mean that if you start before a pacer and then hold back to join them, you might not clock the official time you want. In this instance, we'd recommend you check with the pacers to see how the time on your watch compares with the time on theirs. Better still, move back a pen or two at the start so you can run with them from the off.

Ask us more...

Don't hesitate to email us if you have any more questions. Better still, drop by our stand at the London Marathon Expo before the race. The stand will always be manned, and members of the pacing team will be there in person as often as possible. See you there - and good luck!

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Discuss this article

Tom Reseigh

I am fairly sure this is a stupid question, but it is my first marathon....so....

Do your pace runners stop at all during the race to answer a call of nature? I can understand the quick guys being able to but I am planning on running with the 10 min/mile guy and thats 4.30 hours...

If they dont, what is your advice to keep with them. Run ahead a bit and stop or stop and then catch up?

Posted: 22/04/2010 at 08:36