Only 42 out of more than 500 chosen to carry the responsibility for the highly-anticipated marathon.
A total of 42 pacers have been announced for the 2026 Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) with each set to take on different roles based on their target times and race distances.
In an announcement event held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, they will be guiding thousands of participants to complete the run within their target times.
Project Director, Rainer Biemans said the pacers was selected from more than 500 applicants who underwent strict selection process to ensure only the most suitable candidates were chosen.
“For a pacer assessment previously held in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, participants were required to run without the use of watches.
“They were allowed to choose their preferred target time and distance, but each participant had to meet two objectives which are getting as close as possible to the target time and maintain an even pace throughout the run, like clockwork,” he said.
Biemans said the strict criteria set for the pacers reflected the organisers’ commitment to ensuring participants could successfully complete the race within their targeted times.
“As the country’s first and only World Athletics Elite Label Race, KLSCM is committed to maintaining high standards for our event, and that includes recruiting the best pacers for the job.
“Our KLSCM 2026 pacers have gone through a stringent assessment process to qualify and be selected,” he added.
Biemans explained the 42 pacers will be divided into different time and distance categories based on their performance during the selection process.
The launch event also saw title sponsor ASICS Malaysia introduce the ASICS x KLSCM 2026 Apparel which coincide with national pride celebrations following Merdeka Day.
The 2026 KLSCM will be held on Oct 3 and 4 and will feature three categories — the 10km, 21km Half Marathon and 42km Full Marathon.