Among the tens of thousands of participants hitting the streets of the capital on Sunday 23 April are our TCS London Marathon pacers – a group of friendly runners of all backgrounds and abilities who will be there to help others achieve their marathon goals.

Our 2023 pace team will consist of 130 supportive, dedicated runners – the most we’ve ever had in a single year and a notable increase on the 76 pacers we had in 2022!

Of our 2023 pacers, 41 per cent are female or non-binary – the same as in 2022 – and almost a third (30 per cent) are from less-represented communities, including the LGBTQIA+ family. This is a rise on the number of pacers we had from less represented communities in 2022 (27 per cent).

This year’s team also features international pacers from 25 countries across five continents, representing the international reach of the TCS London Marathon and the diverse communities associated with it. What’s more, over half of this year’s team will be pacing the TCS London Marathon for the first time, bringing fresh energy to the course on Marathon Day.

Our pacers also prove that age is irrelevant when it comes to running, with our 2023 team featuring pacers aged 20 to 69!

Whether you’re taking on your first marathon or your fiftieth – or are out to raise funds or accomplish a fast time – pacers can play a key role in helping you conquer the 26.2-mile distance.

Pacers are keen or experienced runners who complete the course at a managed pace and finish within a certain, predesignated time. The aim of this is to help other participants around them know their own speed and – if they can maintain the pace – finish within the same time.

But pacers are more than just timekeepers. They can also be there to offer words of encouragement and (perhaps quite literally) a helping hand if things get tough on the course, and inspire you to cross the Finish Line with a smile on your face.