Should I Run With a Pacing Group?

1. Firstly, have a pre-race plan: start with a realistic target time, based on your training and previous races/times over shorter distances.  Xempo pacers will have big flags with target times on their backs, choose the one that fits with your goal. The Xempo pacers will know the pace per mile to run at to hit that target time.

2. Be realistic about the pace you want to run – if your personal best time for a 10km race is 50 minutes, then a 1 hour 30 minute half marathon is probably too fast for you at this stage. Be sensible and slowly work your way up to faster times.

3. Running an even pace is a great strategy. It doesn’t necessarily mean running at an even effort level though. If you stick to the same pace throughout the race, it will undoubtedly feel tougher at the end than it did at the start. Xempo pacers will run at as even a pace as possible taking into account the course and conditions.

4. Allow your pace to pick up a little if there is a downhill or the wind is behind you, but not too much!

5. By running with a pacing group, you will benefit physically – for example the group will shield you from headwinds, which can add extra effort to your running.

6. Equally being with a pacing group can have a psychological benefit, the pacers will adjust split times and pace as they go - allowing you to clear your mind and cruise along at your target pace, without having to worry or think too much.

7. You can always adjust if the pace you started at is too slow. If you feel you could go faster, look ahead to another pacer/runner/group of runners and gradually increase your pace to close the gap to them. Try to not do this until after halfway in your race at the very earliest, running too fast too early could cause problems later on.

8. If you have started too quickly, drift to the back of the group. Relax and try to cover roughly a mile at the same pace. If not, don’t panic. Slow down a little bit, so that you are running at a more comfortable pace. You can always drift back to the following pace group to keep running with the benefit of a group.

9. When in a Xempo pacing group, be aware of other people around you. A big group can create chaos on a race course if the members of that group are not all aware of each other.

10. It is not necessary to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the pacer – just make sure you keep the pacer in sight in front of you. This is especially important at the end of the race. Know that Xempo pacers will ensure that the group will arrive at the finish line within seconds of one another.