Aerodynamic Benefits of Efficient Side-Pacer Arrangements in Elite Marathon Drafting

This work numerically studied the effect of pacer arrangements on the aerodynamics of an elite marathoner. Three-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes analysis was performed using the k–ω shear stress transport turbulence model. Aerodynamic drag, running economy, and potential time-saving were defined as performance parameters. The number of in-line pacers and the relative distance between the main runner and side pacers were selected as arrangement parameters. Numerical results were compared with previous studies for solo running and in-line formations. The results showed that appropriate combinations of in-line and side pacers significantly reduced the aerodynamic drag of the main runner. The proposed arrangements were also compared with the INEOS and Nike Breaking2 formations, demonstrating their potential for efficient drafting strategies in elite marathon races.