Many runners make use of pacers, official or informal, when racing for a PB. But is it the same as achieving it on your own?

YES

‘No one physically runs the race for you, you still put in the effort to keep up with the pacer, so yes, it counts!’ – Sarah Gillespie ‘Everyone tries different things to achieve a PB and a pacer is just another one.’ – Charlie Pridmore ‘It depends on whether we’re talking about a PB that I’ve achieved or about a friend who’s just beaten my PB!’ – Andrew Gwilliam ‘Yes. You still have to have the physical and mental ability to do it.’ – Dave Barker

NO

‘No. Running is physical, mental and tactical. If you need help, then you didn’t do it on your own – so not a personal best.’ – Joe Norman ‘A 100 per cent authentic PB? No. But that’s not the real world, where all but the tiniest minority of runners run and test themselves.’ – Luke Zasikowki ‘Achieving a time without a pacemaker is worth more to me than one with a pacemaker.’ – Danny Tolhurst ‘Nope!’ – Annie Birch