Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019

the Pace PROUDLY PACE SETTING From informal beginnings in the early 2000s, where a small handful of runners initially volunteered to pace mostly in Western Cape races, pace setting has grown across the country and is now formally recognised in the ASA rules, and by many race organisers. And there are now formal groups of pace setters organised in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with other pace setters operating in other areas of the country. – BY PAUL MURPHY, WESTERN PROVINCE PACE SETTERS If you would like to know more about becoming a pace setter, you can speak to any pace setter you see at a race, or make contact with your nearest pace setting organisation via one of these Facebook groups: • Western Province Pace Setters https://www.facebook.com/groups/314436651950192 • Gauteng Pace Setters (GPS) https://www.facebook.com/Gauteng-Pace-Setters- GPS-1205368806168863 • Kwazulu Natal Pace Setters (KZNPS) https://www.facebook.com/Kwazulu-Natal-Pace-Setters- KZNPS-225009847902692/ PACE SETTER PROFILE Pace setting can be distinguished from just a group of runners running together by the following factors: • The pace setter has a specific target time that they wish to meet, and will adjust their efforts on the day accordingly to take into account factors such as congestion or wind, whereas a group of runners will just run together, with nobody officially leading the group, and often they run just how they feel rather than for a specific time. • The pace setter carries a flag that indicates their target time. • Passengers are free to join or leave the bus as and when they want. The bus will typically not stop or adjust pace to wait for an individual runner (barring accidents), whereas the group of runners will perhaps wait for a runner that needs a pit stop or to retie shoe laces. The type of pace setters and pace setting buses differ, dependent upon the personality of the bus driver. Some are very jovial with singing, chanting and even tambourines or other musical instruments, while others are more focused on making a quick target time and all effort is put into the running. If you want to be a passenger on a pace setting bus, you are free to join and leave as it suits your race intentions. On the other hand, you can be a ‘good passenger’ by looking after the driver, by helping to get them water at busy refreshment tables, joining in any singing or chanting, and of course, by being considerate of other passengers as well as other non-passenger runners that maybe just want to make their way through or around the bus. 60 ISSUE 115 FEBRUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za THULANI ‘TALLGUY’ MLANGENI Gauteng Pace Setter Getting into running… “Running is in my blood, as my father Cyprian Mlangeni was a marathon runner, and among other achievements, he ran 14 Comrades Marathons. Growing up, we travelled around the country supporting him, and my love for running slowly grew through that journey. In 2012 I decided to start running, and my first official race was in 2014.” Pace setting career… “I love people, and I love supporting and encouraging others, and there were a few that suggested that I should become a pace setter, so I decided to learn more about it. In 2016 I decided to start pacing and ran as a co-driver in the Comrades Marathon, pacing sub-11. I enjoyed the experience, but also had to endure the pressure of carrying people who trust you to help them finish at a certain time, as you have promised, keeping them at a speed that they can manage for the rest of the race to get to the finish line on time.” Most challenging pace setting run… “I was pacing sub-10 at the Comrades Marathon in 2018 and with just 2km to go to the finish, I felt heavy and needed to listen to my body and take it easy. I knew that I would still finish the race, but I was not sure that I would make the target time, and I therefore gave the flag to my fellow runner. You need to have that person that is your right hand man, that can stand in for you should unforeseeable circumstances appear. Team work and team spirit is what makes a great pace setter.” T he definition of pace setting is when a particular runner – the pace setter, or bus driver – leads a group of runners – the bus, or passengers – to run together to achieve a specific target time in a specific race. The aim of the pace setter is to achieve that time whilst running a near-even-effort race, which therefore takes into account the profile of the race, slower uphill and quicker downhill sections, and any run/walk strategy that might be employed. On bigger or longer races, the pace setter will also factor in an estimate of the congestion at the start and an allowance for general fatigue towards the end.

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 60