I have yet to race an ultra, but have always wondered the same thing for the same reason. I'm not sure I even would need a crew. I've run barely beyond a marathon distance on my own and plan to continue to build mileage such that I'll be running those longer distances (upwards of 50M+) by the end of this year or next year on my own about once or twice per week.

What I do now is carry a pack containing my glucometer and glucose tablets (I have type 1 diabetes), water bottles, and electrolyte tablets. Plus a rain jacket if I might need it and whatever else I need to bring (wallet, car key, phone). This works in urban environments where I have access to water from fountains or sinks in public restrooms, or can get water at convenience stores. I have a different pack with a 3L hydration reservoir for when I'm on trails. If I will need more than the 3L of water, I bring a filter to get water from streams, lakes, etc. Often on trails, I'm also bringing a medical kit of various sizes / stock... but if I come upon someone injured, I will likely improvise with items from their pack if possible and whatever limited items I happen to have in mine. I'm a WFR, by the way.

So my "support" is what I carry with me or can access at convenience stores (if in urban environment). This has worked for me on 5+ hr. runs. With races, I would expect that I'm going to replace the convenience store with aid stations to re-supply water. For an ultra, I'm not sure who I would get for a pacer nor am I convinced that they add enough value to go through the trouble to find someone to do that. There is an additional feature with longer races that I do not have when on my own - and that is drop bags. Especially if it is a trail with water crossings (even if not), a dry pair of socks and shoes plus some additional supplies that I won't have to carry the whole time would be useful.

I have run several ultras. I run and train alone and I have never been in a running group or had a running partner. I follow the the advice and routines in "Relentless Forward Progress". Most 50k races do not permit drop bags or pacers unless the course is particularly challenging. I have used drop bags in 2 50ks and one 50M. They take a fair amount of planning, but I usually focus on fresh shoes and dry socks (the longer, more difficult courses almost always have multiple water crossings). I also pack warmer clothes and any special food I may want that might not be available at the aid station where my drop bag is. I do not beleive that I would want or need a pacer at the 50M distance, but it might be nice if I would ever tackle a 100K or 100M. I have crewed and been a pacer for my brother and a couple of his friends doing 100M races.

I found my pacers online, through running FB groups in the area. For my 100k, my first ultra, I had crew (buddy from work) and a pacer. In hindsight, the pacer wasn't really necessary for that race, but having my crew was great. I fueled exclusively with Tailwind, and my buddy had freshly filled bottles at each AS, so I literally just slowed down enough to swap, and kept going.

For my 50k, no crew, and definitely no pacer, since pretty much no race under 100k allows pacers. No problem at all.

For my 100 mile, No crew, but I did have a pacer. This is where a pacer is really handy, when youv'e been running for close to a day, it's nice to have someone along who's fresh, to bacicallt be your frontal lobe. Again, no crew, the course was a 16.7 mile loop, and I just had 1 drop bag at yhe Start/finish and refilled with enough Tailwind, when I got there.

For my 50, again, no pacer, no crew, not that pacers were allowed (see above). It was absolutely no issue at all.

I didn't do much pre-planning for my races, other than the 100, and I made a spreadsheet of what was going to go into my Drop bag.

Vladimirnapkin wrote: »

Your crew doesn't need to be runners. They just need to be reliable. My wife has crewed me for dozens of Ultras, and she doesn't run. (She's active, but not a runner.) After at least ten years, I did buy her a finishers jacket. I figured she'd earned it.

totally this. My buddy who crewed me wasn't a runner. It just needs to be someone who understands you and knows when to be comforting or to kick your *kitten*