Whilst watching the Commonweath marathon last night Cram made numerous comments about the pace been slower at the beginning due to the absence of pacemakers.

I competed in a handicap race last week and have to agree that it is much easier to run when you have got runners in front of you to pick off, and also to push you on. I would have thought experienced athletes would know their race pace though?

There is a big differance between being in a race with pacemakers and a normal race.
In champs races it is often slower as no body will want to take it on.
Have to say that the 5k was awesome. Buster was a top bloke in defeat!

Even at my level it is a lot easier to run a race if there are other club members running whom I can use to assess my own pace. Not exactly pacemakers but similar.
Also having other club members in a "race creates a race within the actual race" and so can give the likes of me something to aim for..ie try to beat the guy/gal who beat me last time!