10 Keys to Being a Good Pace Maker / Rabbit
On Sunday I am the pace setter for the 800m at the Prefontaine Classic. The field is arguably one of the best group of 800m runners ever assembled on US soil. Below are my 10 Keys to Pacing a Ridiculous 800m Field. Hopefully this will help out runners of all events that are going to or are thinking about pacing a race.
1. Don't forget your spikes. Running fast and in the front wearing your trainers will only turn out bad. You'll feel like you're running in sand on the beach before its over. It will also make your feet look huge compared to the other runners.
2. Check the meet schedule the night before the race. Sometimes things change and event staff will be worried most with the athletes that are competing before they think of the pace setter. So it's best to check on this yourself. Being late to the start line or missing the race all together is not good for your career.
3. Don't lean across the line at your stopping point. Not only will this look awkward but studies show that 15% of time runners that lean/lunge across the line fall. If you fall as a pacer you will definitely be trampled by everyone behind you. That can get very ugly ... and bloody.
4. Get off the track quickly. Remember that other runners are right behind you the whole time. So don't slow down in lane one, or lane two for that matter. When your job is done move so far out of the paths of runners so that the only possible way you'd get in the way would be on the winner's victory lap out in lane 8.
5. Keep to the time. Just do your job and run the pace. If the pace is 60 sec laps, don't go out in 56 and come back in 64. For one, that makes the real runners look bad, and two, you're not helping anyone. Also people may start referring to you as Kevin Elliott..
6. Keep your eyes forward and pay attention. We all know you could go farther and you feel comfortable with the pace. So don't showboat like you are winning or try to make it look extra easy by waving to your girlfriend while you're rounding the curve. Again, that can only end badly with a fall or pissing off the meet director.
7. Look presentable. Yeah, you aren't out there to set a personal best or try to beat people but you will still be the face of the race for a while. If the meet is on TV your face will most likely be front and center. So shave your face, shampoo your hair, wear your race makeup (for girls), or do whatever you need to look presentable. Who knows, you may start getting fan mail.
8. Don't put your hands on your knees or lay down on the track after you pull out. If you didn't notice, everyone else in the race ran just as hard as you and kept going farther. In fact, the race is still going on so act like it didn't hurt. Stay upright, sign some autographs, and pretend like you aren't breathing hard. This will help you get more pacing duties and even more fan mail.
9. Be prepared not to be thanked. Everyone in the race is there to win and only one can. So there may only be one happy person after the race and he/she may be giving media interviews afterwards. That leaves a bunch of other runners meandering around the post-race tent, most of which probably could find something you did wrong that hurt their race. If you want a pat on the back, call your mom afterwards.
10. Don't finish the race. If you do it may be your last pacing job ever. Stick to the plan.
