Support Crew
Your support crew is your lifeline during your Trailwalker experience. A good Support Crew are the voice of rationale and understanding when you are weary. They will give encouragement and motivation when you question if you can walk anymore. They will provide a laugh and friendly face when you are tired and emotional. They will monitor your progress and condition and tell you if you need to rest or shouldn't go on.
They will cook for you, and provide you with drinks and treats. They will set up an area for you to relax and regroup. They will look after your gear and provide you with changes of clothes and equipment. These amazing people will massage your smelly feet, replace your sweaty socks and go without sleep!
You could not complete Trailwalker without them!
Choosing Your Crew
Most teams have a support crew of between 2 - 4 people. Your support crew will often be family, friends or work colleagues. Occasionally it may be necessary to engage people you have never met. Be prepared to cover the cost of your crew's food and expenses during these sorts of events and possibly pay them for their assistance.
Many hands make light work. It's tough providing 24-hour support, so try to get another crew to share the responsibility - you could have one day crew and one night crew, for example.
Involving Your Crew
Your support crew is an extension of you team. Involve them in your training walks, fundraising efforts and team meetings.
Ideally, your crew is made up of people who understand the event or have even participated themselves. If they don't know the trail or understand what is involved try to get them out along the course so they can see first hand what you will have to tackle.
Preparing Your Crew
It is important to prepare your crew for the event so they know what is expected of them. They will work very hard and get little sleep during this event so take care of them so they can take care of you!
On the event weekend, communicate with your support crew. They will be eager to know how you are progressing and when exactly they should be prepared for you. SMS messages or short phone calls along the trail can keep you excited and aware there is something other than just a trail in front of you!
Make someone 'chief navigator', and mark the checkpoints on your road map. It can be useful to establish with the support crew where they will be at each checkpoint prior to the event so that you can find them. Maybe one member can meet your team as it arrives at the checkpoint and then escort you through to where the others are.
Before the event let your crew know of any special needs you have or things you would like to have available at the checkpoints. It is sometimes helpful if the crew has an array of food spread out on card tables so that team members can grab what they want and pack things for the next leg. Having your names on containers and gear can also help when walkers are tired and emotional. It is a good idea to have gear and clothing laid out in the boot so it is accessible and easy to manage.
Finally, give your support crew a clear indication of how long you wish to spend at a checkpoint. They can then help by guiding you in your less lucid moments and if you're racing the clock, ensuring that you do not overstay.
See the Support Crew Checklist for what to bring!
Acknowledging Your Crew
The strongest teams are supported by the strongest crews and without them the whole experience would be a whole lot tougher. Let them know how important they are and celebrate your success with them!
