Support or be supported?
This time we will focus on hints and tips for the support. The support team is a necessity for security purposes, but also an important part of the Norseman atmosphere and experience. We often hear the support team being just as enthusiastic about the Norseman weekend as the competitor, claiming that the experience was exciting, fun and strengthened friendship or family bands. So, you know who your support team is, which car to use and you have studied the race manual. What else is there to prepare for to be able to support your competitor all day - and to not end up the one who is being supported?
After the first 25 km’s of the run the support is allowed to follow the competitor. Now you have a 12,5 km climb ahead of you, up a steep hill called «zombie hill» and then a climb up the mountain from Stavsro to Gaustatoppen. Hardly anyone is able to run up these hills.So therefore this is a nice opportunity for the support to park the car (possible a few places) and walk together with the competitor - to celebrate the day! As support, make sure you are physically capable of following your competitor all the way to the top. If you for some reason are not able to follow your competitor the final leg, the athlete must be connected with another competitor and support team before leaving the mountain check point at Stavsro. This should be considered an emergency solution only, as it may delay your athlete, and may even result in a DNF. And you surely don`t want to miss out when your competitor finish! Also, remember the walk back down from Gaustatoppen, which takes about 1,5 hours. It may take up to 3-4 hours before you are back at your car. For competitors who finish at Gaustablikk hotel (white T-Shirt) we recommend the support to park at the hotel and walk/run with the competitor the last loop.
In the end of the day even the support team members have had an extremely long, hard day. You may feel high on adrenalin after an exciting experience and fresh from cool mountain air, but this may change quickly while driving and you may become dangerously tired. Stay the night. Besides, nobody should miss the finisher ceremony.
