London Snickers......

[ToraToraTora]

i see the women have male pacemakers, i though that wasn't allowed IAAF rules. Also Steve Cram commentating said the organisers had supplied the pace makers. Going for world record I guess but would it be valid?

[ToraToraTora]

looks like the men have pacemakers too

[derekpara]

I don't agree with race pacemakers. Athletes should compete as a single identity and not be aided by others. It's akin to competing with the assistance of a 'banned substance.'

D

[Cloverjo]

Paula Radcliffe has the world record for a women-only race, but she has run faster with male pacemakers. She has not been awarded the record with that time.

It would be unfair to Paula if the winner today was given the record.

[Cloverjo]

If she'd broken the record, I mean.

[Buenchico]

All runners in the London Marathon are advised to follow pacers. The official website for the race links through to here:
https://www.runnersworld.co.uk/pacing/pacing-guide/9-reasons-you-need-to-follow-a-pacer-at-the-virgin-money-london-marathon-2018

Apparently women are better at the job than men though:
https://www.runnersworld.co.uk/women/training-for-women/whos-better-at-pacing-men-or-women

While note (iii) to Rule 147 of the IAAF rules effectively prohibits men from pacing women (and vice versa) in track events, there's no such stipulation for road races.

Pacing has always been part of athletics, with (for example) Roger Bannister achieving the four-minute mile only through the excellent pacing provided by Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway.

[ichkeria]

Today’s men’s winner has run a fraction outside two hours with multiple pace makers

[derekpara]

Chris Buenchico

' Pacing has always been part of athletics, with, ( for example) Roger Bannister achieving the four-minute mile only through the excellent pacing provided by Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway.'

Yes, but that was a record attempt - not a race with other competitors.

[ABerrant]

For women's road races the IAAF makes a distinction between 'mixed gender' and 'women only' competitions. The rule change for 2012 was intended to exclusively recognise World Records for Women Only races, while Mixed Gender records (with allowable male pacers) would be classed as World Best, and would have retrospectively stripped Paula Radcliffe of her 2003 WR.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-marathon/argument-erupts-over-radcliffes-marathon-record-idUSTRE78J4DG20110920

Paula successfully lobbied IAAF to retain historic Mixed Gender records.

London Marathon 2017 saw Paula relinquish her 2005 Women Only WR to Mary Jepkosgei Keitany.

[ABerrant]

derekpara - it was an officially sanctioned Amateur Athletic Association of England race meet at which the record was broken. There is no point in attempting a recognisable athletics record unless it is a sanctioned race.

The other racers, alongside Bannister and his two pacemakers Brasher and Chataway, were Tom Hulatt, Alan Gordon and George Dole.

[derekpara]

I stand corrected AB, but I don't like to see pacemakers in the London Marathon.