Pacemaker (running)

A pacemaker (also Zugläufer, brake rotor or pacemaker, sometimes the English term Pacemaker is used) is in the middle and long distance running in general a participant who is employed regardless of his own race success to ensure a certain race pace.

Pacemakers, often jokingly known as hares are often hired by the race organizers, a time to lead the race and to keep the pace high for stronger runners be guided by them and follow a certain time in the first stage of the race. This is often a prerequisite in order to achieve world records or other personal bests can. Each pacer must be from the start in the race here, and lapped athletes are not allowed to operate as Zugläufer. The pacemaker will usually climb out after a stipulated time from the race if he or the athletes, which it is to create that record is no longer useful. The special performance will be financially compensated by the organizer.

Without the use of Zugläufern can come about, what in the World Championships or Olympics often is the case by running tactics a relatively slow time victories.

In major road races there are often several groups of pacemakers that run at a steady speed as possible, depending on how cautious or ambitious the elite runners want to shape their tactics. It may also happen that pacemakers do not get off, but go through. A prominent example is Sammy Korir, the Berlin Marathon the pace for Paul Tergat pretended 2003 the world record and just one second arrived at the end behind him at the finish.

Also popular sports there are so-called braking and Zugläufer running a constant, slow for them to pace yourself and make it easier so other runners to reach a certain goal time. First practiced in Steinfurt- Marathon, this service is now offered by most major marathons.