May 11, 2025
Pacers, Crews, and the Spirit of Ultras: Are We Losing Something?
The ultra running world is evolving rapidly. At major races like Western States, Cocodona, and Moab, we're witnessing the rise of elaborate crew villages, multiple pacers working in shifts, and support systems that rival military operations. This transformation prompts a critical question: are we creating two distinct versions of our beloved sport?
As someone who typically races without crew support, I've always found the magic of ultra running in those raw moments of solitude – when it's just me, my mind, and the trail having a conversation that can't be interrupted. There's something profoundly transformative about facing a 100+ mile journey alone, solving problems on the fly, and discovering who you become when everything falls apart at mile 70, 100, or beyond. That struggle between breaking down and finding a way forward has always been the heart of what makes this sport special to me.
Yet I recognize the immense value crews and pacers bring. They can be literal lifesavers in dangerous conditions, catching signs of deterioration a depleted runner might miss. There's undeniable power in sharing these epic journeys with others, creating bonds through shared suffering and triumph. For those chasing specific time goals or competitive placements, a well-coordinated crew becomes an essential part of the performance equation. Different approaches serve different purposes, and there's no single "right way" to experience ultra running.
What matters most is finding meaning in your miles, whatever that looks like for you. Whether you're drawn to the solitary challenge of self-reliance or the shared adventure with supporters, the essential question remains: what transformation are you seeking on the trail? I'd love to hear your experiences with crews, pacers, or solo adventures. Have you found that sweet spot between support and self-discovery? Subscribe now and join our growing community of non-elite runners who choose to endure, wherever and however you find yourself on this amazing ultra journey.
Choose to Endure
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Chapters
00:00 - Welcome to Choose to Endure
01:53 - The Rise of Crew Villages
04:23 - The Magic of Solo Ultra Running
07:17 - When Crews Become Essential
09:14 - Finding Meaning in Your Miles
13:07 - Connect and Share Your Story
Transcript
WEBVTT
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Well, hello again and welcome back If this happens to be your first time with us.
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Thank you so much for stopping by.
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You are listening to Choose to Endure, the podcast dedicated to non-elite runners, where we share stories, interviews, gear and training tips specific to the tail-end heroes of the Ultra Universe.
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Training tips specific to the tail-end heroes of the Ultra universe.
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If you haven't had a moment to do so yet, please consider heading over to your favorite podcast app, maybe the one you're listening on right now Hit, follow, rate the show and, if you're getting something of value, make sure you leave a review and let others know.
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My name is Richard Gleave.
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I have been running ultras since 2017.
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I have taken on and finished numerous ultra distances, all the way up through 220 miles, and I am unashamedly a member of the back of the pack, just like many of you.
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Now, today, I want to dig into a topic that's been kind of rattling around a bit in my mind for a while now, and it's something that actually seems to be coming up more and more in the ultra world as I peruse the interwebs, and that is specifically about the role of pacers and crews in ultra running.
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Crews in ultra running how they're shaping our races, how they're shaping our experiences and whether, just maybe, we're losing a little something important along the way you are.
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This is the Choose to Endure Ultra Running Podcast With your host he's English, not Australian Richard Gleave.
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If you've been paying attention at big races lately Cocodona, moab, western States you'll know exactly what I'm talking about Massive crews, crew villages at aid stations, multiple paces, rotating shifts, tents, supplies, massive logistical operations at every checkpoint.
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Honestly, it's actually pretty impressive and it really does go to show how seriously people are taking these events.
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And for some, especially if you're one of those chasing a win or goals, it's completely necessary.
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You need efficiency, you need support, you need those extra 1% edges wherever you can find them.
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But as I looked through some of those, it did make me wonder are we unintentionally creating two versions of ultra running One where you're self-sufficient, moving through the miles with everything you need basically strapped to your back, and one where you're essentially part of a moving team with pit crews keeping you on track at all times at all times?
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Is the spirit of solo problem solving and battling yourself getting lost somewhere in this huge logistics race?
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Now, speaking for myself, I don't usually have the luxury of a crew.
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It's just not practical for me.
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I don't tend to have a team that can fly out or drop everything at work to come camp out for a few days while I chase finish lines, because it takes me a while to get there.
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Usually I think too, the guilt I'd feel proactively asking anyone to give up their time and family to come support me, and the worry I would feel, you know, wondering how they're doing and making sure I'm where I need to be for them at the appropriate time.
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That all seems to me anyway a little bit overwhelming.
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But even if I did have somebody reach out and volunteer, I genuinely don't know whether or not I would choose to race that way, because for me the whole magic of ultra running has always been about facing the course and myself alone.
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The beauty has always been in the challenge, in wondering how am I going to get through this and then somehow often messy, often ugly finding a way to keep going forwards.
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Now, before you say anything, don't get me wrong here.
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I have absolutely benefited from the kindness of strangers and other racers.
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Those moments where you link up with another runner at mile 70, mile 140, suddenly you're pulling each other through some really dark patches.
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Those moments are absolute gold and I certainly won't turn those down if they happen, but they've always happened by chance, organically not for me, anyway, because I planned for somebody else to pick me up.
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The race is, whichever race it is, for me has always been about the conversation between my mind, my body and the trail.
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Now, that's not to say cruise and paces aren't incredibly valuable or even essential in some contexts.
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In fact, they can be absolutely and genuinely life-saving Absolutely and genuinely life-saving.
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In dangerous conditions, things like extreme heat, freezing nights, terrible terrain.
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A good crew or a smart pacer can literally save a life.
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They can catch the things you might miss in your own fog of exhaustion.
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And there's something I think really powerful about sharing your journey with others.
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It's not just about suffering alone.
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Ultra running, at its best anyway, is about connection too.
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How many times have we talked about that on the podcast?
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Hiring sunrises after brutal nights getting hammered by a fierce storm on a beach in the outer banks, handing your soul essentially over to somebody you trust to keep you moving forwards.
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Crossing that finish line becomes not just a personal victory but a really intense shared experience, something you did together, something you survived together and something to talk about and refer back to long into the future.
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And if your reason for running is simply to be in nature to move freely, to experience the world in a deeper way, then really, whether you do it solo or you're surrounded by friends, it doesn't actually change the heart of that experience, which is really cool For a lot of people.
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I totally understand.
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Having crew and paces actually enhances that connection with the outdoors, with the journey and with each other, and that is fantastic.
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There's also a strategic side of all this.
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If you're chasing a specific goal let's say you're shooting to break 24 hours at 100 miler having a strong crew and well-planned paces can be a critical part of that plan.
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They can keep you efficient, they can keep your stops tight, they can keep your nutrition on point, they can really keep you moving when your brain just wants to sit down in that chair and quit.
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Now, in those moments, a crew or a pacer isn't just comfort.
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It's part of the performance equation and that, I think, is a legitimate, smart use of every tool available to you.
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There's definitely no shame in racing hard and using help strategically.
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But like everything in life, there is another side to it.
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Not everyone has access to a big crew or even, as in my case, any crew at all, and when the field is split between those who have rolling support teams and those who are carrying their own world on their back, it can start to feel a little, shall we say, unequal Not unfair necessarily, just a little different.
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And it does raise a bigger question.
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And it does raise a bigger question when we start relying too heavily on others to get us to the finish of these big races.
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Do we lose a little bit of that raw experience that makes ultra running so transformative?
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Do we rob ourselves of the messy, beautiful, brutal lessons that come from truly being alone out there?
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Interestingly and this one really stuck with me too I recently read that the Vol State 500, one of Lazarus Lake's races, banned crews moving forwards.
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Now, if you know anything about Laz, you've heard of the Barclay Marathons, right, you know he is a stickler for preserving the purity of the challenge.
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What I read was that the change was made in order to bring Vol State back to its roots.
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It was getting a little out of hand, so what they wanted to do was come back to self-reliance and the solo struggle Finding your way with no safety net, nothing really, but your own grit.
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I think that's a pretty bold move, and from such a respected race as well, it says a lot about where some quite respectable people think the heart of ultra running still belongs.
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So for me, when I sign up for a race, I'm not signing up for comfort, I'm not signing up for any kind of guarantee of success.
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I get that.
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I'm signing up for a question who will I be when everything goes wrong?
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When I'm sitting in the aid station chair crying into my 15th hummus tortilla wrap, when my leg sees up, when I can't eat, when it's mile 230 and I haven't slept for two days, when I'm hallucinating gorillas waving at me from the shadows on a trail?
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That's the battle I'm there for.
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Who am I?
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That's the moment that strips away everything else, all the ego, all the plans, all the pace charts, all the expectations.
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It ends up being just me against myself.
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But and I'll say this just as loudly that doesn't mean every runner has to approach it the same way I do, and I totally get that.
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Some people are out there for the sunrise, for the forests, for the shared journey, for the laughs at the aid stations, for the love of moving across beautiful landscapes with people they care about, and I do those things too.
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I'm not saying I don't those things are equally valid, but just different reasons, different races, different rewards.
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At the end of the day, it's about finding meaning in the miles, whatever that means for you.
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So I'd love to hear what you think about this topic.
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Am I way off base?
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Have you raced solo?
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Have you used paces?
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Have you had an epic crew experience that changed everything for you?
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Maybe you felt that subtle difference between running for yourself and running alongside others?
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Shoot me a DM on Instagram or Facebook.
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I'd love to hear your story and maybe, just maybe, I might share it in a future episode.
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While you're out browsing the internet there, don't forget to subscribe to the show.
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That way, you'll get notified each time a new episode drops and if you're enjoying what you hear, please, please, follow, share and leave a review again.
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That would would mean the world.
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Your support helps grow.
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The podcast connects more runners to this amazing ultra community and spreads the word to those who could benefit from what we're sharing here.
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You can find us on Instagram and Facebook at ChooseToEndure, or visit anytime at ChooseToEndurecom and go check out the blogs.
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I'd love to hear from you whether it's to say hello, suggest a topic or share your story.
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You can also email me directly at info at choosetoeenjoycom.
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Interacting with listeners like you is one of my favorite parts of doing this show, so definitely don't be shy about reaching out.
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So until next time, run long, run strong.
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Think about what it means to run solo or run with a crew and keep choosing to endure.
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