Post date: Sep 22, 2017 7:9:45 AM
Before setting out with a group on a gnarly trail run I go through the following short safety talk, short enough that I can fit it in before we take off but gets everyone on the same page.
Our zeroth rule is that this is supposed to be fun. So if it stops being fun, change something up so that it's fun.
Safety Rules
First rule is SAFETY FIRST. We all want to come back from this so don't endanger yourself or others.
Second rule is TEAMWORK. work together, don't leave anyone alone. share if needed.
Third rule is STAY OUT OF THE NEWS. We do not want to be the trail runners that make the news - unless of course following rules 1 and 2 means ending up on the news so be it, but otherwise, we don't want to be on the 11 o'clock news.
Operational Rules
For the most part we'll run together. If you have to momentarily leave the group, such as bathroom stop or just done filling your water bottles and want to go on, then make sure you tell as many people as possible so the rest of us know where you are.
At every trail intersection, stop and regroup if folks have spread out. We don't want to leave anyone behind. For big groups we might have a rule at intersection/turns that you wait for the next person, then they wait for the next one, and so on.
Watch out for the person behind you, if you suddenly sense a gap turn around to figure out what happened.