How experienced marathon runners help others keep pace
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Some marathon runners are looking to beat their personal record or qualify for another marathon, while others are purposefully keeping a certain pace. Although each runner may have a different goal, a team of runners helps set the pace for runners to make it happen at the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.
These runners are called 'pacers.' They sign up to complete the marathon in a specific time to help other runners keep their pace. Terry Higgins has served as a pacer at the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon a dozen times.
'A pacer is someone who has agreed to run the marathon at a particular pace so that other runners around them will know, 'hey, I'm going to finish this race at a particular time,'' he explained.
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Being a pacer isn't for the weak. These runners must have marathon experience.
'I have been running for over 25 years now, I have been pacing for about 13 years now, I've run the Knoxville Marathon about… I know I've paced at least 12 of them and then I've run a couple more,' Higgins said.
Pacers wear singlets to identify them and carry flags that show their finishing time. Aside from helping runners with their time, pacers also offer support along the course.
'During the race they will also provide helpful hints, support, strategy, because there's just sometimes where you're like, 'Hey, how do I approach this hill?' for example. Knoxville has a few hills, so the pacer's there to help runners out during the course,' Higgins said.
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Some pacers for the Knoxville Marathon come from around the country. Higgins said the course keeps them coming back.
'This marathon is, let's just face it, it's probably the best marathon of the spring season. Out of all the marathons there are, Knoxville by far is a great venue, we have great scenery, we have a great course,' Higgins said.
The pacers are for both half-marathoners and marathoners, as the two courses share 12.8 miles.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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