Discussion
Cybertronian said:
...Useful Info...
Thanks for the advice. I've used the services of pacers many times and find them invaluable, but they're fairly sporadic at my local, so I'd love to give something back. As you say there are often a decent group behind them (especially for ones between 27-30 minutes) which fall away later on. Some pacers just run silently aside from the occasional update where as others really coach people round...I'd be firmly in camp 1!I'll aim for a steady 26 minutes each time over the next month and go from there, I think. My biggest fear is that I tend to get swamped at the start, I've been stood directly behind the the 25 pacer and ended up behind the 30 pacer by the first corner before, so that wouldn't be ideal if there are other pacers on the weeks I do it!
Ours is a 2 1/2 lapper with a couple of steady climbs and a nice fast downhill finish.
Best of luck with it. I love pacing people and find it a very humbling experience; you might be cruising at a comfortable pace, but those following you are red-lining at their limit. One lady I paced always reminds me that her years old 5k PB was down to me and she's not bettered it since - fills you with the warm and fuzzies!
Agree with everything Cybertronian said, but had a couple of things which might help.
- Let everyone around you know that you are a pacer at the start line 5 mins before the start. It will help clear out any people who are not that pace and also bring people to you
- Talk to people in those 5 mins before the start so they know how you are you are going to pace the race e.g. might be slower in the first 1km due to traffic, but will run evenly
And the practice part.... please do this as it's not easy to pace and to know how it should feel is important
Well done for taking on the challenge!
- Let everyone around you know that you are a pacer at the start line 5 mins before the start. It will help clear out any people who are not that pace and also bring people to you
- Talk to people in those 5 mins before the start so they know how you are you are going to pace the race e.g. might be slower in the first 1km due to traffic, but will run evenly
And the practice part.... please do this as it's not easy to pace and to know how it should feel is important
Well done for taking on the challenge!
Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 16th February 15:30
Getting the pace right over the first few hundred metres is difficult, the best way I think is to set off at what you think is the right pace and when the crowds thin out start fine tuning either by your Garmin or the K markers if there are any.
If the first k is 20 secs out, try to adjust by 5secs/k over the next 4k, not all in one quick go.
Try for steady pace, it might suit you to nail the first k or sprint finish but might not suit others, they can do that around your pace but that's up to them.
Try to finish a few seconds under the target pace, but not 30 secs under (as one of our regular pacers does!) - anyone struggling to get 25:59 WON'T get 25:30
Although you want to be encouraging and chat, remember that the pace will be on the limit so probably not able to speak!
Even if there's no one on your shoulder, there might be someone 50 yards behind who still gets a PB because they're keeping you in sight, so keep at 26 pace even if you think you're on your own.
Finally, enjoy it, it's very rewarding if someone gets a PB because of what you did, but don't worry too much if you get it wrong, you're doing your best as a favour and they shouldn't complain if you don't get it right!
If the first k is 20 secs out, try to adjust by 5secs/k over the next 4k, not all in one quick go.
Try for steady pace, it might suit you to nail the first k or sprint finish but might not suit others, they can do that around your pace but that's up to them.
Try to finish a few seconds under the target pace, but not 30 secs under (as one of our regular pacers does!) - anyone struggling to get 25:59 WON'T get 25:30
Although you want to be encouraging and chat, remember that the pace will be on the limit so probably not able to speak!
Even if there's no one on your shoulder, there might be someone 50 yards behind who still gets a PB because they're keeping you in sight, so keep at 26 pace even if you think you're on your own.
Finally, enjoy it, it's very rewarding if someone gets a PB because of what you did, but don't worry too much if you get it wrong, you're doing your best as a favour and they shouldn't complain if you don't get it right!
Has anyone done any fundraising for an AED and found an easy way to deal with the donations from runners?
For example (and this may not be feasible), at our upcoming parkrun birthday we are thinking along the lines of a cake 'sale' to raise money for the AED. We have two running clubs donating towards it but it would be nice to get the runners involved as well.
As it is the birthday event, the thinking was that people bring along a few cakes and the runners make an (optional) donation in exchange for a slice.
However, due to the no cash rule you cant have buckets to collect the money as it all has to be donated directly to via the donations page on the web site. So whats the best way to deal with this (if any), have the laptop nearby and point them in the direction of that to make the donation?
I understand local running clubs/businesses can donate towards the AED by donating online then turning up with a comedy massive cheque for a bit of PR but they cant be at the event acting as the middle man collecting the money then donating it themselves as no cash is allowed to change hands at an event.
I can see why they have the no cash policy as they want their 15%, the person collecting it may do a runner, etc. But a few buckets to collect the money at the event would raise funds in no time as people are more likely to throw some change in it rather than go to the parkrun site, try and remember their paypal account details, fill in some forms, lose interest and go and do something else instead, etc.
For example (and this may not be feasible), at our upcoming parkrun birthday we are thinking along the lines of a cake 'sale' to raise money for the AED. We have two running clubs donating towards it but it would be nice to get the runners involved as well.
As it is the birthday event, the thinking was that people bring along a few cakes and the runners make an (optional) donation in exchange for a slice.
However, due to the no cash rule you cant have buckets to collect the money as it all has to be donated directly to via the donations page on the web site. So whats the best way to deal with this (if any), have the laptop nearby and point them in the direction of that to make the donation?
I understand local running clubs/businesses can donate towards the AED by donating online then turning up with a comedy massive cheque for a bit of PR but they cant be at the event acting as the middle man collecting the money then donating it themselves as no cash is allowed to change hands at an event.
I can see why they have the no cash policy as they want their 15%, the person collecting it may do a runner, etc. But a few buckets to collect the money at the event would raise funds in no time as people are more likely to throw some change in it rather than go to the parkrun site, try and remember their paypal account details, fill in some forms, lose interest and go and do something else instead, etc.
Where does the no cash thing come from, is that for raising money for a parkrun held asset? We've had a few runners do cake sales at parkrun when raising sponsorship for a race, but usually do quite poorly due to the amount of free cake that's usually on offer form various people celebrating milestones or birthdays. The defibrilator is mounted on the wall of the cafe so I assume is "owned" by the park. Pretty sure we chucked cash in a bucket for that, but if it was technically in the name of the park rather than parkrun that might be a difference. They raised the money for it pretty quickly having sadly lost a runner due to a heart attack which prompted the decision to get one.
My understanding is based on this statement.
"In all cases there must be complete transparency; to comply with audit requirements, to protect the volunteers themselves, and to protect any funds from being misappropriated.
The underlying policy which parkrun applies across the world is that there should be no cash handling by volunteers, including in the form of cheques and bank transfers. Monies should come direct to parkrun Limited and nothing must ever be paid into personal bank accounts even with the aim of subsequently transferring to parkrun."
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19joDbCc-ACmg_q...
The park where the event is held wants nothing to do with the AED as they dont want the responsibility if it is damaged/stolen so it would be used only by the parkrun event.
All money raised would be paid into the parkrun donation page on facebook marked for the AED so HQ dont take their 15%.
My thinking to get round the cash handling issue was like this:
1. Local running club (who will be donating to the AED anyway) host the cake sale.
2. Local running club rattles buckets to collect money in exchange for slices of cake.
3. Local running club removes bucket from pakrun event.
4. Local running club counts the money and adds it to their existing donation.
5. Local running club turns up with comedy huge cheque for their existing donation plus cake sale money.
As you can see, there is no mention of parkrun at all with the above and no parkun volunteers on the day would get their hands dirty But, there is still cash on site that is going via a middleman en-route to parkrun.
I met with the other ambassadors yesterday and, whilst not mentioning our plans, the subject of cake sales, etc were brought up and were very much frowned upon. So, whilst I personally dont have an issue with this method of collecting money (and no doubt other events have done similar), with my ambassador hat on I must make sure that no rules are broken given that I cant look the other way.
"In all cases there must be complete transparency; to comply with audit requirements, to protect the volunteers themselves, and to protect any funds from being misappropriated.
The underlying policy which parkrun applies across the world is that there should be no cash handling by volunteers, including in the form of cheques and bank transfers. Monies should come direct to parkrun Limited and nothing must ever be paid into personal bank accounts even with the aim of subsequently transferring to parkrun."
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19joDbCc-ACmg_q...
The park where the event is held wants nothing to do with the AED as they dont want the responsibility if it is damaged/stolen so it would be used only by the parkrun event.
All money raised would be paid into the parkrun donation page on facebook marked for the AED so HQ dont take their 15%.
My thinking to get round the cash handling issue was like this:
1. Local running club (who will be donating to the AED anyway) host the cake sale.
2. Local running club rattles buckets to collect money in exchange for slices of cake.
3. Local running club removes bucket from pakrun event.
4. Local running club counts the money and adds it to their existing donation.
5. Local running club turns up with comedy huge cheque for their existing donation plus cake sale money.
As you can see, there is no mention of parkrun at all with the above and no parkun volunteers on the day would get their hands dirty But, there is still cash on site that is going via a middleman en-route to parkrun.
I met with the other ambassadors yesterday and, whilst not mentioning our plans, the subject of cake sales, etc were brought up and were very much frowned upon. So, whilst I personally dont have an issue with this method of collecting money (and no doubt other events have done similar), with my ambassador hat on I must make sure that no rules are broken given that I cant look the other way.
Edited by KTF on Thursday 16th February 16:23
No, it would be a coincidence that they decided to turn up on that day.
Note: I feel I must pass the running club holding the fundraiser idea past my new found ambassador friends to cover my own backside but had wondered if anyone had done something similar at their event.
Note: I feel I must pass the running club holding the fundraiser idea past my new found ambassador friends to cover my own backside but had wondered if anyone had done something similar at their event.
Edited by KTF on Thursday 16th February 16:32
We announced and put on webpage and facebook that we wanted money for the AED, please donate through the donations page http://www.parkrun.org.uk/your_parkrun_name/aboutu... and we had enough within a few days to pay for it - you only need 50 people to put £10 in to get going, we got a big lump from a club plus you might have someone with personal experience of heart attack who will be generous (one of our runners brother collapsed at a run so he put £100 straight away).
If you talk to HQ about it they will give you 100% when it's for this - for general donations your event gets 85% and the New Event fund 15%.
It's much easier than the effort of making cakes
The only time we have cakes is when a club want to do it to raise funds for their charity and it's up to them how they account for it, but remember that clubs have a constitution, committee, treasurer, bank account etc so they can handle the money.
Individual parkruns don't have all that stuff to make it easier to administer.
The problem if you take cash is what do you do if someone accuses you of stealing it - you have no cover whereas an online donation is documented and HQ can show where it went.
If you talk to HQ about it they will give you 100% when it's for this - for general donations your event gets 85% and the New Event fund 15%.
It's much easier than the effort of making cakes
The only time we have cakes is when a club want to do it to raise funds for their charity and it's up to them how they account for it, but remember that clubs have a constitution, committee, treasurer, bank account etc so they can handle the money.
Individual parkruns don't have all that stuff to make it easier to administer.
The problem if you take cash is what do you do if someone accuses you of stealing it - you have no cover whereas an online donation is documented and HQ can show where it went.
john2443 said:
It's much easier than the effort of making cakes
The problem if you take cash is what do you do if someone accuses you of stealing it - you have no cover whereas an online donation is documented and HQ can show where it went.
Yes, I understand the theft issue via volunteers directly as Bushy could easily raise a couple of grand by rattling a bucket then its never seen again... The problem if you take cash is what do you do if someone accuses you of stealing it - you have no cover whereas an online donation is documented and HQ can show where it went.
The plan would also be to put a donations news page up on the site and link to it from the facebook page as that seems to be what other events have done.
The cake at the event option just tied in with the birthday and would capture the people who never read facebook, the parkrun site, etc.
At the christmas parkrun, someone turned up with a table and shot glasses of Lidl Baileys collecting money for the 'friends of the park charity' on behalf of the park that we use as a thank you for letting us use it for parkrun. Whilst (in my pre-ambassador days) it didn't register that all sorts of rules were probably being broken at the time, they had no shortage of people turning up to throw some money in their bucket.
ukaskew said:
Any tips on being a pacer? .........................................
As someone who had paced .....I find trying to be close to pace during the first km, then bringing that back to pace on the 2nd K, maybe -10 sec for the for 3rd K then easing off to come in spot on,
EG: Pacing 25 = 1Km ?? 2Km @ 10:00 3Km @ 14:50 4Km @ 19:50 5Km @ an OCD timed 24:59
I use MapMyRun on the phone with the settings to give a split & elapsed time every 0.5Km,
I always shout a repeat of the distance & time elapsed, This always go's down well with those around and if your encouraging someone so slightly off pace it allows other knowledge of your true pace ... so consider this
If you've got the lungs for chatting or encouragement then I've never found anyone who's objected and the amount of people who've tapped me on the shoulder after the run to thank me is heartwarming
Ultimately your volunteering so enjoy it out there and others will enjoy it too
Did a 25 pace practice and came in at 24:55 so that was pretty good. Will try for 26 next week as would like to learn to run a more controlled slower run a fair bit off of my true pace as well.
Easy to get blasé about it as it felt reasonably steady, then it occurred to me that's my second quickest parkrun time (PB is 24:17) but I'm rarely pushing for a PB as I've been racing most Sundays.
Easy to get blasé about it as it felt reasonably steady, then it occurred to me that's my second quickest parkrun time (PB is 24:17) but I'm rarely pushing for a PB as I've been racing most Sundays.
I've decided to have a go at pacing.
Most weeks at my local (Kettering) there are pacers around 21/24/27 minutes, and I thought "what about the 30+ minuters?".
My PB is 26.50 and I am doing around 27-28 mins at the moment, so I am going to rehearse pacing tomorrow at 32 minutes. If I get on alright I'll officially pace next week. And maybe reduce the time in the coming weeks.
Might be good for me too as my "faster" runs include a couple of short hill sections which I tend to walk up, so it could get me out of that habit.
Most weeks at my local (Kettering) there are pacers around 21/24/27 minutes, and I thought "what about the 30+ minuters?".
My PB is 26.50 and I am doing around 27-28 mins at the moment, so I am going to rehearse pacing tomorrow at 32 minutes. If I get on alright I'll officially pace next week. And maybe reduce the time in the coming weeks.
Might be good for me too as my "faster" runs include a couple of short hill sections which I tend to walk up, so it could get me out of that habit.
If 32 mins can be done at 'easy' run pace then you shouldn't have a problem but personally I find it difficult to run at a unnaturally slow pace.
When I have paced a half I normally do 1:40 (7:37 avg) or 1:45 (8 avg) as mid(ish) 7 is easy for me to maintain without pushing it. Anything above 8 is just feels very odd as I never run at that pace.
If you are around 28 mins each week and can do that with no issue then it may be a better target than a 32.
When I have paced a half I normally do 1:40 (7:37 avg) or 1:45 (8 avg) as mid(ish) 7 is easy for me to maintain without pushing it. Anything above 8 is just feels very odd as I never run at that pace.
If you are around 28 mins each week and can do that with no issue then it may be a better target than a 32.
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