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Ruth Chepngetich’s extraordinary world record in Chicago also brought attention to the use of male pacers and the impartiality of marathon competition.
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Access to elite pacers can create disparities due to financial and logistical support, not just athletic ability.
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The increasing use of advanced technologies and pacers could turn the marathon into a race for records, demotivating those who can only rely on their athletic prowess.
The recent world women’s marathon record, set by Ruth Chepngetich in Chicago, marked a historic moment for the sport. However, Madeleine Kelly, writing for Canadian Running Magazine, raised questions about the use of male pacers and their impact on the impartiality of competitions. The discussion about the role of pacers is not only a technical issue but also deals with the symbolic value of the marathon as an individual test of endurance and strategy.
Chepngetich was supported by pacers throughout the race, including Barnabas Kiptum, who has a personal best of 2:04. This raises important questions about impartiality: can it still be considered an individual performance if an athlete has such strong pacers at her disposal?
A competitive advantage?
The main concern isn’t about the performance itself—which remains outstanding—but about access to resources that not all female athletes can afford. This undermines the principle of equality in competition. Being able to rely on pacers can, in short, create a competitive advantage tied not only to the athlete’s physical and mental capabilities but also to financial and logistical support.
Marathons: an individual race?
Marathons are traditionally endurance and strategy events, in which each athlete is challenged not only by the stopwatch but also by the need to manage effort, environmental conditions, and competition from other racers. The continuous support of pacers reduces some of these variables, turning the marathon into more of a race against the clock than a true competition between athletes. This shift could change how the marathon itself is perceived, moving the focus from the competitive aspect between athletes to the goal of breaking time records.
New rules?
Another aspect to consider is the impact this type of support could have on the future of racing. With advancements in technologies, such as carbon-plated shoes, and the increasing use of high-end pacers, there is a risk that the gap between athletes with access to advanced resources and those without will widen even further.
This risk makes it necessary to discuss new rules that ensure greater equity, such as limiting the use of pacers beyond a certain distance or adopting uniform criteria for all participants. Madeleine Kelly suggests one possible solution: regulating pacer use by imposing clear and uniform limitations. For example, pacers could be allowed only up to 30-35 kilometers, so that individual athletes are left to manage the final stretch of the race. The goal is to preserve the essence of competition and ensure that performance is truly the result of individual talent, preparation, and determination.
Impact on future generations
Finally, we must consider the influence that these records and advanced resources may have on the public and younger generations of female athletes. If the belief spreads that expensive support and cutting-edge technologies are necessary to achieve exceptional results, it may reduce motivation for those who do not have access to such resources.
The marathon, as a symbol of endurance and pushing one’s limits, risks losing some of its appeal if it is perceived as a race dominated by technology and economic resources. World Athletics, which governs and regulates competitions, understandably resists limiting the use of pacers, not least because the chase for records helps sustain public interest in these races.
However, if we become too accustomed to frequent record-breaking, the public’s attention may shift solely to times, detracting from the race itself. It can feel as though the competition is just a prelude to the final act—crossing the finish line with, hopefully, .a new world record.
The marathon is evidently much more than that: it is a slow, tenacious, and intelligent buildup that culminates in a time, not just an eventual world record. In short, the fundamental question is whether it’s more important to keep breaking new records at all costs or to preserve the essence of competition, where each athlete competes primarily against herself and her limits.