RunCzech Pacers are an integral part of RunCzech races, providing support to runners directly on the course. They are a group of experienced pacers who help other runners maintain a steady pace and achieve their target finish times.
The aim of the project is to enhance the running experience and give runners greater confidence that they can stick to their race strategy, even during the most challenging parts of the race, and safely cross the finish line within their chosen time.
In this way, a community of amateur runners naturally connects with pacers, who become an integral part of each runner’s personal running journey.
In marathons and half marathons, pacers are positioned in different starting corrals according to their target finish times (1:24–2:30 for half marathons and 3:00–5:00 hours for marathons). Each pacer is easily recognisable by a flag displaying their target finish time. This allows runners to join a pacer at any point during the race and rely on them to maintain the designated pace.
For the marathon, we also collaborate with a special international group, the International Team Walkers, which extends the range of pace groups to include a target finish time of up to 7:00 hours. This ensures that runners and walkers aiming to complete the race at a more relaxed pace also receive support and guidance along the course.
This year, for the first time, pacers also had their own booth at the expo during the Prague Marathon, where runners could meet them before the race and ask any questions they had.
RunCzech Pacers are true running enthusiasts at heart – volunteers from all over the Czech Republic who represent a wide range of professions and age groups. They are highly disciplined and empathetic individuals who remain calm under pressure and communicate effectively with other participants to support them in achieving their goals. The team has been led for the past six years by Jirka Fix, an experienced pacer who first joined RunCzech in 2013 and has also paced races abroad.
Behind every successful finish with a pacer is a different story and a different motivation, but all pacers and runners are an integral part of the “All Runners Are Beautiful” concept. It is not just about minutes and seconds, but also about the shared joy of pushing personal limits and supporting one another on the course. The presence of pacers encourages beginners to take the leap and stand at the starting line, while inspiring experienced runners to achieve better performances. RunCzech Pacers are a symbol of community spirit and a personal, human approach that makes every race a more achievable challenge.
Follow our pacers on their social media channels. Scan their QR codes to access their profiles.
You can also find them via this link: RunCzech Pacemakers
