If you’ve ever stood at the start line of a race and spotted runners with balloons tied to them that read “1:45,” “2:00,” or “4:30,” you’ve already met one of the most underrated heroes of race day—the pacer.
For the upcoming 2XU Compression Run this Sunday, there will be a total of 8 pace groups – 5 for the half marathon and 3 for the 10 km. Scroll through the carousel to see who are these wonderful ladies and gentlemen who have scarified sleep over countless weekend to be your pacer. They’re not there for glory. They’re not chasing personal bests. They are there for you. Look for them. The guys in the bright yellow singlet and the lady in the lovely blue and pink top. Their bib and the balloon they have with them will show their pace band. Look at the photos of the pacers below and look out for them during the race.
Half Marathon - 1:50 hours pacers
10 Km - 60 minutes pacers
Err but what exactly do the pacers do, why are they so valuable, and how can they help you?
What Is a Pacer?
A pacer is an experienced runner assigned to maintain a consistent speed throughout a race, finishing at a specific target time. They usually carry visible markers (balloons or bibs) so runners can easily follow them.
Race day excitement can trick even seasoned runners into starting too fast. Pacers help prevent that classic mistake by running at a consistent and sustainable pace from start to finish.
Pacers often double as cheerleaders. When things get tough, they’ll encourage you, give updates, and keep the group engaged.
Why Run with a Pacer?
- You have a specific time goal (e.g., sub-2-hour half marathon)
- Your pace is inconsistent
- You need group motivation
How to Choose the Right Pacer and Follow Effectively
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Be Honest About Your Goal
Pick a pacer that matches your realistic target—not your dream scenario. If you’ve trained for a 2:00 finish, do not follow the 1:50 pacers.
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Position Yourself Early
Start near your chosen pace group but don’t stick too close though. Give yourself a small buffer. Running directly behind can feel crowded, and sudden pace changes may throw you off. Stay within visual range instead.
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Run Your Own Race Within the Group
Use the pacer as a guide—not a coach. If the pace feels too fast early on, ease back slightly. It’s better to rejoin later than to burn out.
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Listen and Engage
Pacers often share updates like “we’re 10 seconds ahead” or “water point coming up.” These cues are incredibly useful—pay attention.
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Be Prepared for the Unexpected
In crowded races, pacers may need to adjust pace briefly. Stay calm and avoid overreacting to short bursts.
Running with a pacer can transform your race experience. It provides some level of confidence, structure and the desired finish time.
A pacer is a tool — not a leash. And the magic only works if you use it wisely.
If you’ve never tried running with a pacer before, the 2XU Compression Run might be the perfect time to give it a try. You might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve running with the dedicated pacers who have put in hours and hours of hard work to ensure that their pacees get to complete the race within the desired time.
Finally we leave you with this advice from Mike Kang – 
Team Leader of Team Pink Apple pacers. Mike has been running for many years and leads the Punggol Runners and have been leading the Team Pink Apple Pacers for more than a decade. His advice to new participants and runners looking for a Personal Best using the pacers as a guide :
“Be realistic about your pace and stay in between two pace groups if you are not very confident of maintaining a pace by following a particular pace group.
Use the average pace for your longest run as a guide for race day and stick to that pace by aligning that pace with the closest pace group for the 2XU Compression Run.
Listen to your body.Slow down the pace if you cannot cope.Safety and health is always important.”
PS: Our Running Shots photographers will be on site covering the race. Do look out for our photographers, wave and smile for the camera 🙂
