Ultra Crew Prep
steps for a successful crew
I made the bold choice of racing the day before crewing Cocodona again.
On May 3, I will race a half marathon, head to my bridal shower at noon, and hop on a plane that evening to Arizona.
Upon arriving in Pheonix, I collect the crew van at the airport. A mere 10 hours later, Max starts the race.
I know. Kinda crazy.
The next four weeks are when everything starts to come together. Preparing ahead of race week keeps me from feeling overwhelmed and allows me to be present when it matters most. I take the time to go through stuff in advance so Max and I are aligned. There’s a certain comfort in knowing as much as possible before race day and can help in an unpredictable environment.
With a full-time job, managing a household, feeding everyone, creating media content, training for my own races, running a club, and still trying to show up for friends and family, last-minute prep isn’t an option. This is part of my job, and I treat it that way. Staying organized and communicating with the crew is essential. When life is busy this is necessary.
Below is a breakdown of the steps I take to get organized before big races. I’m not claiming to be the godfather of crewing, but I’ve developed a system that works for us. I found method to the madness.
Step 1: Crew Race Guide
I start everything with our crew guide.
The crew guide has notes from the race website, YouTube videos about the race or tips from other runners. Below is a list of what you would find in my crew guides.
