Pacers Keep Us Moving.

A pacer is an experienced runner who commits to helping others try to finish a race in a certain time. Our expert Classic City Marathon and Half Marathon pacers know the course and will share information and encouragement with surrounding runners. Watch for their big signs on race morning!

We plan to have pacers to help you aim for the following finish times.

Full marathon: 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00

Half marathon: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, 3:00

Meet Our Marathon Pacers

  • Kevin

    3:00

    Kevin cheerleads for his runners and shares information about upcoming parts of the course, supporting everyone who is aiming for the benchmark 3-hour marathon.

Meet Our Half Marathon Pacers

  • Monica

    2:30 (with Gabby!)

    Monica has already run at least 142 marathons, so her goal at the moment is to read 100 books this year!

  • Sally

    1:40

    Sally raced in high school, raced for Auburn University, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of running shoes!

In the weeds with some pace-group details: At the Starting Line, if you are following a pacer, be sure they are running your race! Their signs clearly say “MARATHON” or “HALF marathon,” and it matters because their pace per mile will differ and because the courses split away from each other after ~1.5 miles. But the final ~6 miles of the courses are the same (after Mile 18 of the marathon and after Mile 7 of the half marathon). So if you are a faster marathoner or a slower half marathoner, and if you happen to spot any pace groups or signs from the other race toward the end of your race, the total finish time on that pacer’s sign will be meaningful for you, yes.

Can you be a pacer for the 2027 Classic City Marathon or Half Marathon?

Email us if you have questions, or go ahead and fill out the form. Thanks!