Pacing + Crewing an Ultramarathon - Kristen Schindler
Pacing and crewing an ultramarathon is one of the strangest and most meaningful roles in endurance sports. It’s exhausting, emotional, and incredibly important.
A good crew or pacer can completely change someone’s race experience, not because they eliminate suffering, but because they help create steadiness, clarity, humor, and support when things start falling apart.
This list is a collection of things I recommend for pacers and crew members because they genuinely make long race days more manageable, functional, and fun, especially when there's glitter.
Mountain Hardwear Women's Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody Purple S by Mountain Hardwear — Crewing ultras usually involves way more standing around in weird weather than people expect. Even races that are brutally hot during the day can become freezing overnight once fatigue sets in.
A giant puffy jacket is one of those things that seems unnecessary until you desperately need it.
Pro tip:
Bring the warmer jacket. You will not regret having too many layers at 3 a.m.
REI Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair Blue by REI Co-op — Low energy crew members are NOT helpful crew members!
Depending on the race, the pace, the terrain, the weather...you name it, you might be out there for 14 hours or 30+ hours. Tiny comforts matter more than you think. Having a place to sit, organize gear, eat, and mentally reset can make a huge difference over the course of a race. Just don't let your runner sit down in it for too long ;)
Black Diamond Storm 500-R Rechargeable Headlamp Black by Black Diamond — Say it with me: One headlamp is none. Two headlamps is one.
You are going to use this thing constantly, digging through drop bags, helping your runner change layers, navigating aid stations, pacing at night, reading maps, searching for lost gear, finding snacks in your car at 1 a.m., putting it on your dog, etc.
Pro tip: Bring a reliable one with extra batteries or a backup light.
YETI Tundra 45 by YETI — If the crew is under-fueled and dehydrated, decision-making starts getting sloppy fast...and the hanger is real.
Eventually everyone reaches a point in ultras where gels stop sounding appealing. Having cold drinks, fruit, wraps, rice, potatoes, or recovery drinks available can completely change a runner’s ability to keep moving.
Also: crew members need actual food too.
Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove Green by Coleman — Warm food can feel emotionally restorative late in an ultra. Same goes for hot coffee at sunrise after nobody has slept.
Tiny morale boosts matter.
Sport Hydration Drink Mix - 20 Servings by REI — Pacers and crew members forget to hydrate constantly because they’re focused on the runner. Then suddenly everyone feels terrible.
Bring more hydration than you think you need.
50 L Alpaca Camp Box by REI — Ultras generate an unbelievable amount of gear. Layers, socks, batteries, nutrition, poles, charging cords, blister kits, extra shoes, random trash, wet clothes.
Label things ahead of time. Your future sleep-deprived self will be SO grateful.
Bins make everything easier to find when someone is exhausted and asking for something immediately.
BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank by BioLite — Phones dying at the worst possible time is my nightmare. Especially when pacing and crewing an ultra.
Between tracking apps, race updates, photos, maps, texts, weather checks, and navigation, phones get drained fast during ultras.
This is one of those small things that quietly prevents massive headaches later.
Charge everything whenever you get the chance.
