Should I Have a Crew?

“Should I have a crew?”

When I get this question the runner is looking for my yes/no answer.

You might be there now - confused and wanting to know the right choice.

But no one else can answer for you. You’re going to have to decide.

Up front, there are potential disadvantages to having a crew.

You’ll be tempted to spend more time with them in aid stations. Inexperienced crew can cause more problems than they solve. Lurking personality conflicts will magnify during a race. And if they violate race rules, they can get you disqualified.

But most of the confusion about having a crew comes when you’re leaning toward having one.

So I’m going to give you an easy way to make your own decision.

It starts with asking a better question: What problem am I solving with a crew?

Your answer will fall into one of four categories.

The first category is where the race requires crew, like Badwater 135 or Daytona 100.

The answer here: Crew solves the requirement.

The second category is where it’s a fun excuse to share the experience. For example, my parents live near the Javelina 100 course and for years have met me when I finish up a loop to say ‘hi’ and share the experience for a moment.

The answer here: No problem to solve - just fun.

The third category is where having a crew clearly supports your race goal.

Like, you need a crew to logistically get gear or pacers from here to there on a big loop or point-to-point course like Hardrock 100 or Superior 100.

Or you’re going to be in a new circumstance, like a new distance, and aren’t sure what level of support you need or what the race provides. For example, I had a crew for my first 100 at Superior and my first 200 at Bigfoot.

The answer here: Crew solves a real or anticipated problem.

Where you’ll get stuck is the fourth and final category.

This is where a crew doesn’t solve a problem but you feel like you should have one anyway.

Like, you want to reduce race anxiety and feel in control by throwing resources - crew - at it. But having a crew doesn’t make internal anxiety go away. What controls anxiety is learning how to manage it.

Or you don’t believe you can finish the race and want crew to keep you motivated and convince you to keep going. This doesn’t solve a belief problem. As much as they might want to, a crew can’t do the believing for you - you still have to do that for yourself.

Or a friend volunteered and you hadn’t planned on having crew but don’t want to offend them. People-pleasing your crew starts a race out on the wrong foot. From there, it’s easy to worry about disappointing them or being late to meet them at aid stations.

The answer for this category is: Crew might be creating a problem instead of solving one.

Once you think it through in terms of your race goal, the decision will be clear.

But no matter what you decide or why, stick with it and don’t look back.

Make it the best decision for your race.