Pacer Following Strategy: The Psychological Dependence and Independent Awareness of Running with Rabbits

Introduction

In the starting crowd of the Taipei Marathon, the most eye-catching figures are often the pacers holding colorful signs and wearing special vests—commonly known as “rabbits.” They are volunteers dedicated to specific finish times, promising to lead runners to their goals with precise pacing. Every year, the Taipei Marathon sets up multiple pacer groups ranging from 3 hours to 6 hours, attracting thousands of runners to line up behind them.

Following a rabbit has clear advantages: it removes the mental burden of pace calculation, provides a visual target to chase, and creates the collective momentum of a small running community. However, it also carries hidden risks: over-reliance can cause runners to lose awareness of their own condition, and if the rabbit’s pace deviates (which can happen), the following runners are often completely unprepared.

The Psychological Mechanism Behind Following a Pacer

Why is it easier to finish when following a rabbit?

Segmented Application of Following Strategies

Following strategies should differ across segments:

0–15K: Learning Phase

The primary task in this phase is to “feel the pace,” not to blindly stick to the rabbit. Run 2–3 meters beside the rabbit and feel what this speed does to your body: Is your breathing smooth? What is your heart rate?

Important reminder: Many rabbits run slightly fast in the first few kilometers (influenced by the group effect), so you need to judge whether this is truly your target pace. If it feels too easy, you’re likely right on target; if it feels very hard, you may have been pulled off pace.

15–30K: Trust but Verify Phase

Keep following the rabbit, but do an “independent assessment” every 5 kilometers:

• Does my cumulative time match my goal?
• What is my physical condition? (Is this pace sustainable to the finish?)
• Is the rabbit’s pace stable?

After 30K: Independent Decision Phase

This is the most critical fork in the road. After 30 kilometers, you need to proactively make decisions based on your own condition:

• If you feel good: You can pass the rabbit, or even try to accelerate
• If you’re on track as expected: Keep following, but be prepared to finish independently
• If you’re struggling: Deliberately let the rabbit go and run the remaining distance at your own pace

Common Mistakes When Following a Rabbit

1. Getting “sucked in” by the rabbit and running beyond your capability

   • Symptoms: Feels easy for the first 20K, then a sharp collapse after 25K
   • Cause: The rabbit’s pace is slightly too fast for you, but the group-following effect keeps you from noticing
   • Prevention: Calculate your own target pace before the race; if the rabbit is more than 5 seconds/km faster, don’t follow

2. The rabbit is running slow, but you keep waiting

   • Symptoms: It feels too easy, but you don’t dare pass the rabbit
   • Solution: In this case, pass decisively—you’re already well prepared, and being conservative only wastes your energy reserves

3. Over-dependence: falling apart when the rabbit drops out

   • Solution: Always maintain the mental readiness that “I can finish on my own”; practice self-pacing in long runs without a rabbit

4. Following group pressure and mistiming your fueling

   • Many followers skip aid stations because they don’t want to fall behind the rabbit—this is very dangerous behavior
   • Principle: Fueling matters more than pacing, especially after 25K

Training Methods to Build “Rabbit Independence”

• Practice self-pacing on every training run: Don’t always rely on your watch; practice judging pace by feel
• Deliberately skip the rabbit in a race: Pick a lower-pressure race and control your speed entirely on your own
• Simulate post-30K self-acceleration in long runs: Build the confidence that you can speed up without an external anchor

Practical Advice

The best strategy for following a rabbit is: treat him as a “pace reference” in the first half, and as a “target” rather than a “crutch” in the second half. The real goal isn’t to finish by following the rabbit—it’s to finish on your own, and to finish at the level you’re capable of. The rabbit is a tool, not a dependency.

Conclusion

Rabbits are one of the most beautiful volunteer traditions in marathon racing. A good rabbit can transform a runner’s race experience. But the best runners are those who can use the rabbit well without depending on it. When you cross the finish line on Xinyi Road at the Taipei Marathon, what you should remember is “I finished,” not “I finished by following someone.”

Related Reading

• Running Community Psychology: The Psychological Support of Pacer-Runner Interaction
• Marathon Pacer Strategies: How to Maintain a Steady Finish Pace
• Road Race Pacer Guide: The Complete Strategy for Sticking with a Pacer and Finishing Strong
• A Pacer’s Reflections: Guiding Runners to Reach Their Goals