Use a Pace Band
Read a printed band’s distance markers and cumulative times, and check its title, units and finish before using it.
Identify the plan before reading a row
Start with the printed distance and finish target. Two bands for the same distance can contain different targets, and two bands with similar-looking times can use different units. A short title is useful, but the numeric distance and duration are the reliable identifiers.
Read the distance and cumulative time together
On a four-hour marathon band, the 10 km marker reads about 0:56:53. That is the time from the start to 10 km. It is not the duration of the tenth kilometre. The 40 km marker reads 3:47:31, and the finish reads 4:00:00.
| Printed marker | How to read it |
|---|---|
| 10 km · 0:56:53 | Total elapsed time at 10 km |
| Half · 2:00:00 | Elapsed time at 21.0975 km |
| Finish · 4:00:00 | Elapsed time at 42.195 km |
Read the range if there are several strips
A long marker list may require more than one strip. Each strip identifies the distance range it covers. Keep the strips in sequence and find the strip containing the finish. A shorter layout should be chosen by changing the marker interval, not by discarding the last strip.
Before printing and cutting
- Confirm the distance, target, pacing allocation and marker units.
- Check halfway and finish labels.
- Choose a band length and height that keep the text readable.
- Print at actual size and measure the 100 mm calibration line.
- Keep the complete finish marker when trimming the paper.
The print layout is a mathematical reference. It does not account for the placement of physical course markers, GPS behaviour or how you will feel during an event. Those observations do not change what the printed numbers represent.