# Explain marathon pacemakers and what the wrongdoing was in this marathon? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 21, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580 "2024-04-21T16:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/1 "2024-04-21T16:10:01Z")
Inspired by this recent controversy in the news: > **[Beijing Half Marathon champion has medal taken away after other runners...](https://apnews.com/article/beijing-half-marathon-winner-disqualified-pacemakers-baf989eb0aa050497a3a234613735ae0)** > > Organizers have revoked He Jie’s first place in the Beijing Half Marathon last weekend after an investigation confirmed that three other runners had slowed down to let him win the race. I’ve read the Wikipedia article on pacemakers: > **[Pacemaker (running)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacemaker_(running))** > > A pacemaker or pacesetter, sometimes informally called a rabbit, is a runner who leads a middle- or long-distance running event for the first section to ensure a high speed and to avoid excessive tactical racing. Pacemakers are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times. Some athletes have essentially become professional pacemakers. A competitor who chooses the tactic of leading in order to win is called a front-runner rather th Pa... Other than **[aerodynamic drafting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drafting_(aerodynamics)#Running)**, I’m not clear on what pacemakers can do for a runner that they can’t do for themselves with wristwatch. I’m also not clear what exactly was the wrongdoing that got all of these guys disqualified from the Beijing event. Was it the fact that they helped He Jie win (I guess by allowing him to draft them until near the end of the race)? Are there rules against that? Was it the fact that race officials were not made aware, prior to the race, that these guys were pacemakers? If the latter, how would organizers’ awareness of their status as pacemakers have made things OK? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/2 "2024-04-21T16:20:30Z")
From the article. > The special committee said that four runners had originally been hired as pacemakers by a sponsor but that the main organizers of the race had not known this. One of the pacemakers didn’t finish the race. Pacemakers are typically **hired by the race** to assist the frontrunners to maintain pace. They are _not_ there to assist(such as drafting) one specific runner. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/3 "2024-04-21T22:00:11Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Was it the fact that race officials were not made aware, prior to the race, that these guys were pacemakers? If the latter, how would organizers’ awareness of their status as pacemakers have made things OK? If the organizers didn’t know, it explains the scandal. Organizers typically pull the rabbits out a mile or two before the end of the race after a rabbit in the 1995 Houston Marathon went on to take first prize. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/4 "2024-04-24T04:20:34Z")
They were DQd because they were not pacers but competitors in the event. I know someone pretty well who is an ultra marathon runner , race director and running coach. He has paced several women marathon runners when they were breaking various records in marathons.( his marathon times tend to be coming in ahead of the elite women winners) He was hired by the runners and in some cases flown to different countries to run the marathon as a pacer for the client. He was not hired by the event. From the pictures I have seen he has a number bib that specifically says “pacer” so it is something that is cleared with the race organizers. on several occasions there have been two pacers for the same person. The role is to set and run a consistent pace which is important, also to provide coaching and metal support out on the course which is also quite important . Not sure if drafting is allowed , it probably is. The rules can change from race to race though and in some cases I am sure the race organizers hire generic rabbits to run at set pace. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/5 "2024-04-24T04:22:13Z")
Fwiw one of the runs he was a pacer was the Houston marathon , at least now pacers have ‘pacer’ on their bib so are not eligible competitors. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/6 "2024-04-24T12:51:10Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > From the pictures I have seen he has a number bib that specifically says “pacer” so it is something that is cleared with the race organizers Pacers are an expected aspect of ultrarunning, but typically not in any races shorter than that. They typically are only allowed on course after a set number of hours or miles, to assist the runners that are getting loopy/tired. When runners are on course for 20+ hours and in the dark and miles from an aid station, a pacer can be a safety measure. Runners will also group up, but pacers are more reliable. In most cases, pacers are there for motivation, safety, companionship, and to help at aid stations. For the fastest runners they also help keep the speed up but for the majority they are just to keep the runner moving forward. In the races I’m involved with, pacers don’t need bibs nor is there any need to register. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/7 "2024-04-24T13:23:41Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’m also not clear what exactly was the wrongdoing that got all of these guys disqualified from the Beijing event. Probably the part about 3 of the runners being paid to let the other runner win. I watched the ending [on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BwLlrKDxs8) and it is thoroughly ridiculous. 4 runners crossing within a half second of each other, and a few seconds before this clip, the African runners were urging the Chinese runner to go up ahead. It isn’t a competition if someone is choosing a winner, and nobody should be given an award for being the chosen winner. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-marathon-pacemakers-and-what-the-wrongdoing-was-in-this-marathon/1000580/8 "2024-04-27T22:32:22Z")
[My recent thread on pacemakers.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacemakers-rabbits-in-track/998858) (Didn’t think it would come into handy! 😁) As is usually the case with these little scandals, my questions are 1. who cares enough about this dinky little sport to even want to corrupt it in the first place and 2. who cares enough about this random schlub to rig the game for him. I mean, strongarming Michael Schumacher’s teammate into tanking was despicable, but I **got** that. Propping up some random Chinese runner makes about as much sense as throwing a cornhole tournament or point-shaving a UFL game. Seriously, what the hell am I missing here? Additionally, if He Jie’s helpers really wanted him to win the race, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to just _not compete in it?_ I mean, look how far he was ahead of everyone else! He had this in the bag! He didn’t need any “pacemakers”, unless wind resistance was just _that_ debilitating to him, which of course just makes the idea that anyone would consider him worthy of propping up even more ridiculous.