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to keep the runners at a speed that they can manage for the rest of the race become useful in such a situation. Pacemakers are also used on world record attempts in order to make sure that the runner knows where their invisible "opponent" predecessor is at that stage of the race. Pacemakers serve the role of conveying tangible information about pacing on the track during a race. Pacemakers may also facilitate
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Purists argue that employing pacemakers detracts from the competitive nature of racing. Original rules frowned on a competitor who was not actively trying to win, and pacemakers were required to finish a race for any record to count. This rule was later dropped, though the pacemaker must start with
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had his medal revoked when it was discovered, by a special committee, that three pacemakers deliberately slowed down to let him win. The event operators apologized saying they were unaware that one of their sponsors, had hired four pacemakers (one pacemaker did not finish the race). The committee
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Pacemakers may be used to avoid the tactics of deception that are possible in competition by those who, for example, race away from the start line (and are likely to subsequently slow down), giving the other runners the impression that they are far behind. A trusted team of pacemakers who are paid
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furlongs) may be entered into major races specifically to set the pace for the top horses from the same stable. On a few occasions, pacemakers have finished ahead of the horses they were setting the pace for, such as when
Summoner won the 2001
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disqualified the operator from hosting the
Beijing Half Marathon and banned the sponsor from sponsoring any more races this season. When interviewing one of the pacemakers, they responded, “I was hired to be a pacemaker, not to win the race.”
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attempts with specific instructions for lap times. Some athletes have essentially become professional pacemakers. A competitor who chooses the tactic of leading in order to win is called a front-runner rather than a pacemaker.
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finish. Whereas most pacemakers are shorter-distance runners assisting in a longer-distance record attempt, Jipcho's favoured events were longer than 1500m, and there was no prospect of breaking a record.
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Pacemakers are also used for amateurs to assist them in reaching personal goals. For example, in a marathon there may be pacemakers for 3 hours, 3:30, 4 hours, etc. Such pace-setters are referred to as a
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but race among themselves. Ovett's last lap was almost 10 seconds faster than Byers's, but Byers, though a pacemaker, held on to win by a few metres. There was a similar case in the 1994
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car, to the surprise of the expected favourites. That year, the L.A. Marathon was the
National Championship race, so he also became the United States National Champion. Brazilian
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when veteran marathoner Paul
Pilkington was paid to set a fast pace then drop out. When the elite athletes failed to follow his pace, he kept going, ultimately winning
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event for the first section to ensure a high speed and to avoid excessive tactical racing. Pacemakers are frequently employed by race organisers for
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to provide visual excitement to their races. They became commonly used in major competitions (aside from championship meets) around 2023.
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in 1994. It was his first competitive marathon, and he was supposed to be a pacemaker up to the 21 km point, but won the race.
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finished 1 second behind in second place. At 21.5 miles into the run, Korir tried, unsuccessfully, to make a move on Tergat.
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Flashing lights in the side of tracks set to a specific pace were an innovation introduced in 1972 by the professional
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The rules for pacemakers specify that not more than three of them are dedicated to one group of runners.
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356:"Want to run with a pace setter / Bus? Here's some advice for the Two Oceans Marathon (And Comrades)"
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the other competitors as a registered entrant. A lapped competitor may not act as a pacemaker.
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The Story of Tom Byers - The
Pacemaker That Beat The Best - Biography on Youtube
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499:"VANDERLEI DE LIMA - THE STORY OF A MAN THAT GOES BEYOND ONE STRANGE INCIDENT"
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was hired as a pacemaker, but crossed the finish line as the winner.
317:"RunnerSpeak A Dictionary of Running Jargon and Other Sports Terms"
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Runner who sets the pace in a race for other competitors
241:(Kenya) set a new world record with 2:04:55; pacemaker
478:"This Marathoner No Silly Rabbit - Los Angeles Times"
460:"ESPN.com - MORESPORTS - How low can Loroupe go?"
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130:Pacemaker (on the left) at London Marathon 2014
570:Beijing Half-Marathon Winner’s Medal Stripped
283:ahead of his two more-favoured stablemates.
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370:"We're One Step Closer to the Perfect Race"
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404:"Do pacemakers have a place in athletics?"
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514:"Die schnellsten Zeitarbeiter der Welt"
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134:The use of pacemaking increased after
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227:During the Berlin Marathon in 2000,
545:Longman, Jere (29 September 2003).
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480:. Articles.latimes.com. 1994-03-10
383:Carter, Kate (28 September 2023).
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609:Sport of athletics terminology
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432:Butcher, Pat (2004-05-04).
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25:Pacemaker (disambiguation)
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319:. 10k Truth. 1936-07-04.
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220:, was a pacemaker at the
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518:Der Tagesspiegel Online
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434:"Completely off pace"
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218:2004 Summer Olympics
202:Los Angeles Marathon
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182:1500 metres
599:Pacemakers
593:Categories
556:2018-10-01
531:2018-10-01
484:2011-09-27
445:2010-04-09
418:2010-04-09
327:2011-09-27
304:References
293:Domestique
158:Ben Jipcho
101:pacing bus
68:pacesetter
36:Abel Kirui
526:1865-2263
198:Tom Byers
64:pacemaker
321:Archived
287:See also
210:Mercedes
190:folklore
172:'s fast
170:Jim Ryun
93:drafting
34:Rabbits
604:Running
501:. IAAF.
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122:History
111:races.
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72:rabbit
21:Pacer
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206:US$
180:The
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