Pace Groups with Student Pacers

Continuous running in pace groups, like in a road race: each group follows a pacer in a pinnie who checks lap times with a stopwatch. The pacer changes every few minutes. It builds aerobic endurance and the ability to hold an even pace.

How to play

1. Mark a 250 m loop with a cone every 50 m. Introduce four pace groups with a target time per lap: easy 1:50, medium 1:35, strong 1:25 and fast 1:15. Each student chooses a group (4 min).
2. Each group has three pacers who take turns, wearing the group's pinnie color and carrying a stopwatch. The pacer runs in front and checks the time at the start line.
3. Block 1 (12 min): continuous running; the pacer speeds up or slows down if ahead of or behind target. Every 4 minutes a new pacer takes the pinnie and stopwatch.
4. Scoring: every lap finished within 5 seconds of the target earns a point for the group.
5. 2-minute walking break: anyone can switch groups. Block 2 (6 min) with the same format.
6. Wrap-up (1 min): each group shares how many laps hit the target and which pacer was most even.

Rules

• Nobody passes their pacer; students who want to go faster switch groups at the break.
• Faster groups pass on the outside.
• Pacers check the stopwatch only at the start line, not every step.
• Anyone who can't keep up drops to an easier group without stopping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a student in a wheelchair forms their own pace group on an inner loop or paces a group with an adapted target.
• Shy students: the pacer can run with a buddy on their first turn.
• Low fitness level: the easy group allows alternating jogging and brisk walking while holding the lap time.

Learning goals

• Sustain 12 minutes of continuous running at an even pace.
• Control pace using lap time as a reference.
• Take responsibility for leading a group.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 6
• colored pinnies: 4
• stopwatches: 4

Teacher tip

Pacers tend to speed up when they feel watched: ask for a pace they could hold while talking. Adjust target times to your students after the first lesson.

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