Pacers Program
The Pacers Program assists participants to their time goals in the ASICS Half Marathon and Visit Toowoomba Region 10km. Pacers are experienced runners who aim to maintain a relatively even pace throughout the race with the goal to have you finishing slightly faster (30 seconds or so) than your goal time. As the Toowoomba course has some hills there will be times where they will have you running slightly faster than the average pace to make up for the climbs.
For easy visibility, the pacers will be carrying a coloured balloon and a goal time sign high amongst the starting runners. Each pace runner will also wear a singlet with the goal time marked on the back. It’s important to know the start zone your pace runner will be in and ensure you choose the same start zone when you enter so you can start the race near your pacers.
Pacers will run to the ‘Net Time’ (also called ‘Chip Time’). Net Time is the time it takes you to complete the distance once you’ve crossed the start line. Note: Due to participant numbers, it may take several minutes to cross the start line after the gun is fired.
ASICS Half Marathon Pace Times
| Pace Group | min/km | Balloon | Position | Pacers |
| 1 hr 30 mins | 4:16 min/km | Purple | Front of Zone A | Ben Vogelzang & Melanie Magarey |
| 1 hr 37 mins | 4:36 min/km | Purple | Between 1:30 & 1:45 hr pacer | Jeremy Cox & Jerome Windslade |
| 1 hr 45 mins | 4:59 min/km | Purple | Middle of Zone A | Sean Needham & Janet Smith |
| 1 hr 55 mins | 5:27 min/km | Purple | Back of Zone A | Serena Dwyer & Yolande Willemse |
| 2 hrs | 5:42min/km | Purple | Front of Zone B | Ricardo Nitschke & Michael Shellshear |
| 2 hrs 10 mins | 6:09 min/km | Purple | Middle of Zone B | Chasley Wilson & Emily Scherger |
| 2 hrs 20 mins | 6:38 min/km | Purple | Back of Zone B | Larissa Beutel & Mark Galley |
| 2 hrs 30 mins | 7:07 min/km | Purple | Front of Zone C | Hai Luong & Quan Nguyen |
| Chaser (3hrs 45 mins) | 10:40 min/km | Purple | Back of Zone C | Deb Auchterlonie & Hope Bishop |
ASICS Half Marathon
Pace Group: 1 hr 30 mins
Pace: 4:16 min/km
I’m a local runner who really loves this hilly course! It’s a challenge, no doubt, but that Campbell St downhill is glorious. This will be my first pacing gig & I’d love to help new friends crack 90.
Pace Group: 1 hr 30 mins
Pace: 4:16 min/km
I love the Toowoomba region and its running community and want to be able to take the time to give back and help others achieve their goals.
Pace Group: 1 hr 37 mins
Pace: 4:36 min/km
Jeremy Cox
I love helping people hit their goals and realise their pace is achievable. Many of the pacers are Toowoomba Road Runners who know the course well and help you finish strong. Beware of Deadly Dudley????
Pace Group: 1 hr 37 mins
Pace: 4:36 min/km
Jerome Windslade
Toowoomba Running Festival is a great event, I am really excited to pace for such a great community event.
Pace Group: 1 hr 45 mins
Pace: 4:59 min/km
For me it’s a great chance to give back to the Toowoomba running community and help other runners achieve their goals
Pace Group: 1 hr 45 mins
Pace: 4:59 min/km
Janet Smith
I love to be able to support runners achieve their goal time and be able to provide encouragement while running with them.
Pace Group: 1 hr 55 mins
Pace: 5:27 min/km
Serena Dwyer
Helping people achieve their goal time or PB.
Pace Group: 1 hr 55 mins
Pace: 5:27 min/km
Pace Group: 2 hrs
Pace: 5:42 min/km
Pace Group: 2 hrs
Pace: 5:42 min/km
It’s a great event on a scenic course.
Pace Group: 2 hrs 10 mins
Pace: 6:09 min/km
I was pushed along with the support of the Toowoomba running festival pacers last year, when I completed my first full marathon. I look forward to paying the spirit forward this year!
Pace Group: 2 hrs 10 mins
Pace: 6:09 min/km
Love this community event, brings a real atmosphere to our town. Can’t wait to help our runners run their goal time.
Pace Group: 2 hrs 20 mins
Pace: 6:38 mins/km
Helping others reach their goals while sharing the journey because running is about believing in what you are capable of
Pace Group: 2 hrs 20 mins
Pace: 6:38 mins/km
I have friends that have paced and I’ve never been quite sureif I could do it, being my home town run and friends have challenged me to give it a go.
Pace Group: 2 hrs 30 mins
Pace: 7:07 mins/km
Really excited to back the Toowoomba to enjoy and share with our run mates for exploring each amazing conners around the city!
Pace Group: 2 hrs 30 mins
Pace: 7:07 mins/km
Quan Nguyen
What inspired me to want to be a pacer at TRF26 is my experience completing multiple marathons and understanding how much a steady pace, clear communication can make difference on race day
Pace Group: 3 hrs 45 mins (Chaser)
Pace: 10:40min/km
Deb Auchterlonie
Love doing Chaser for Toowoomba Running Festival. 3rd year for me. Love supporting people to finish the event.
Pace Group: 3 hrs 45 mins (Chaser)
Pace: 10:40min/km
Hope Bishop
I love to be able to support individuals to get across the finish line. It is a great event to be apart of.
Visit Toowoomba Region 10km
| Pace Group | min/km | Balloon | Position | Pacers |
| 50 mins | 5:00 min/km | Yellow | Back of Zone A | Ben Lonergan & Brian Baker |
| 60 mins | 6:00 min/km | Yellow | Front of Zone B | Shane Argo & Margaret Broksch |
| 1 hr 10 mins | 7:00 min/km | Yellow | Back of Zone B | Peter Williams & Regina Baker |
| 1 hr 20 mins | 8:00 min/km | Yellow | Front of Zone C | Graham Dougherty & Nicole Brown |
Visit Toowoomba Region 10km
Pace Group: 50 mins
Pace: 5:00 min/km
Ben Lonergan
Toowoomba is home for me and I’ve run these courses countless times. Being able to support the event as a pace runner is really something special. I can’t wait to see the streets crowded with runners
Pace Group: 50 mins
Pace: 5:00 min/km
Brian Baker
I am super excited to be apart of Toowoomba Running Festival; I look forward to helping the community.
Pace Group: 60 mins
Pace: 6:00 min/km
Shane Argo
I’ve paced a few friends on races and found it fun and rewarding and I’d love to do the same for a bigger group of people.
Pace Group: 60 mins
Pace: 6:00 min/km
Margaret Broksch
I truly enjoyed pacing the marathon in 2024 and would love to help runners achieve their goal for the 10km!
Pace Group: 1 hr 10 mins
Pace: 7:00 min/km
Peter Williams
I like to encourage other runners to achieve their goals
Pace Group: 1 hr 10 mins
Pace: 7:00 min/km
Regina Baker
I like to engage myself in community involvement, and Toowoomba Running Festival is the perfect event for this.
Pace Group: 1 hr 20 mins
Pace: 8:00 min/km
Graham Dougherty
To help out for a local event
Pace Group: 1 hr 20 mins
Pace: 8:00 min/km
Nicole Brown
I enjoy supporting fellow runners and look forward to assisting participants at the Toowoomba Running Festival in achieving their time goal in the 10km event.
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