ERDINGER Pacers - Manchester Half Marathon

For Manchester Half Marathon 2024 we have a wonderful team of ERDINGER pacers ready to help you achieve your 13.1 mile goals. Our friendly team of 25 ERDINGER pacers come from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities but all share a common love of running and the running community.

Whether you are taking on your first half marathon or accustomed to this distance, pacers allow you to concentrate on your running while they take care of the pacing, letting you enjoy the 13.1-mile course

If you have a time in mind, have a look at the pacer chart below for the set times our ERDINGER pacers will be aiming to complete the event in. It’s likely that the pacer will complete the course at a consistent pace of which you can also see below. If you’re still feeling great towards the end, you’re more than welcome to run ahead and secure that PB!

Look out for the flags (right) whilst in the start pen to find your correct pacer.

Whether you are taking on your first half marathon or accustomed to this distance, pacers can allow to concentrate on your running whilst they worry about the ‘pacing’ letting you enjoy the 13.1 mile course.

If you have a time in mind, have a look at the pacer chart above for the set times our ERDINGER pacers will be aiming to complete the event in. It’s likely that the pacer will complete the course at a consistent pace of which you can also see below. If you’re still feeling great towards the end, you’re more than welcome to run ahead and secure that PB!

Look out for the flags (below) whilst in the start pen to find your correct pacer.

We’ve also highlighted some of the ERDINGER pacers who will be out on course with you, check out their stories below.

*Please note this does not include the full list of ERDINGER Pacers. Refer to the chart above for the full list.

MEET YOUR ERDINGER PACERS

Thabang Letheo | 1:35

How many half marathons have you completed?

How many half marathons have you paced?

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

My desire to help other runners achieve their running targets and fitness goals.

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

No, I usually incorporate the same training as a normal race. Over the years my experience has helped me to be able to maintain a specific pace over a running distance.

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

Try and be consistent in your training and try to incorporate some interval training in your workouts where you aim to run at a pace equal to a slightly faster than the target pace. This will build your endurance for race day.

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

My ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity is : listening to some upbeat music, drinking a cup of black coffee and stretching.

Imran Hassanjee | 1:40

How many half marathons have you completed?

How many half marathons have you paced?

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

I love Manchester people and I love giving back to the running community where I started my fist ever half marathon event.

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

Pacing is a different ball game to racing and much pressure than racing as you are racing for others. My approach is much different as to have a run plan and run at different pacing times to suit my pacing time.

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

If you're looking for sub 140 and I will be your hero for 1 hour and 39 minutes. I am one of the best pacers around and I thrive on pacing and my achievement is seeing you guys achieving goals which gives me a buzz.

I will entertain you throughout the race to take your pain away and keep up with me and I will get you your goal time.

#yourgoalismygoal #weareinittotheend

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

My ritual before taking part in a sporting activity from a fuel perspective is porridge. Before I set out on a training run stretching is a must for 5 mins and then it's off I go. If I am racing a mile warm up is a must before I start.

Daniel Walsh | 1:50

How many half marathons have you completed?

How many half marathons have you paced?

2024 Manchester Half will be my first.

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

I want to support and promote physical activity and all the benefits it has. In last year's Manchester Half- Marathon I had to pull out at 15km as my body couldn't continue. I then went on to learn that I had Testicular Cancer and over the past year I have had surgeries and chemotherapy treatment which has led to me being given the "all clear". Now in my recovery, I am back to full fitness.

I look back and I am grateful for running for allowing me to be more in tune with my body. I have been lucky to have support from the running community and I want to give back by helping others achieve their running goals.

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

Whilst I am following my regular 12 week half marathon training plan to prepare for October's race, I am completing all my long runs at the specific race pace I am pacing to help me feel more comfortable with the speed. Usually my long runs in training are 1 minute to 1 min 30 seconds slower per mile than my race day pace. Running at my specific race pace has helped me feel fully prepared to run at the right splits.

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

Stay relaxed, everyone around you on the start line will have different race strategies and it can be easy to get swept up by the adrenaline and go off too fast. By staying relaxed you will run smoothly and have a great chance of getting your target time.

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

My pre-event ritual - is to have my pacing watch on my right wrist and start my GPS at least 10 minutes before the event starts!

Jo Egerton | 2:00

How many half marathons have you completed?

How many half marathons have you paced?

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

I have the pacing bug, and I love this event with it being local to me.

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

Yes, because I will be running at a different pace to what I normally run at, but also I try not to over train as I would not want to risk getting injured before the event.

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

Come and join the 2:00 party bus - you will have that much fun, it will be over before you know it!

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

My ritual before any event that is long distance is to ensure that I drink plenty of fluids a few days before. On race day, I tend to have a bowl of porridge 3 hours before, and a banana 2 hours before. I will have an energy gel 10 mins before start time which gives me a little boost.

Marie Angelique Beuler | 2:15

How many half marathons have you completed?

How many half marathons have you paced?

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

If I was shooting for a PB, I would definitely choose this course, it is fast, flat, with great support and well-organised. I can't wait to pace this again!

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

I always keep myself marathon and half marathon fit. However, I like to Pace at paces that are very comfortable, so that I can relax on the course and focus on the runners.

If I was taking part individually I probably would step up my training, but my main goal for pacing is to be fit and not injured 🙂

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

Do some core strength and cross training along the way.

Also, try to do four or five fast parkruns along the way, as running faster will make the desired pace at the half marathon, feel slower!

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

My ritual for gearing up, is texting my running buddy and friend Alice, to make sure she's setting off at roughly the same time. We live 10K apart so we have to each run 5K to even start running together. Needless to say, this mainly works for longer runs!

Also, I have a banana, grab as one water, my bone conducting headphones and a layer in case of weather!

Aggy York | 2:45

How many half marathons have you completed?

About 100!

How many half marathons have you paced?

What made you sign up to pace the 2024 Manchester Half?

The crowds, the route and the Manchester friendliness!

Do you adjust your training for a half marathon that you are pacing at versus one that you are taking part individually? If so, how?

I tend to use heart rate zone training to get my pacing miles done.

What is your one piece of advice for someone who's half marathon target time is the one you are pacing?

To try to start behind me, overtake me and either stay with my group or just ahead. And sprint finish - you don't want me in your finisher photo!

Given that ERDINGER Alkoholfrei is your Ritual After Sport, what is your ritual to gear up before starting a sport activity?

Before a race I wake up with a black coffee ajd for breakfast I have a chocolate protein shake blended with a banana, a hand full of oats and a tablespoon of peanut butter.

I also make sure I am well hydrated by drinking Tailwind electrolyte the day before , morning of and during the race. You'll see a bottle of this made up super concentrated in my pace backpack !