💡 Fuel For Thought

Three lessons from inside Project 168 crew tent

The last few days have been particularly unusual for me, as I've spent most of my time crewing Phil Gore as part of Project 168. That’s also why this week's newsletter is a little different to the usual.

With the event still unfolding, I thought I'd share a few observations from inside the crew tent, along with lessons you can adapt to your own events.

1. Clear communication makes everyone’s job easier.

Phil isn't afraid to ask for help, and he's very clear about how he wants things done.

As crew, we've made a few jokes about the "feedback" we sometimes receive, but the truth is, we're grateful for it. When things need to happen quickly and consistently, knowing exactly what your runner wants removes uncertainty.

Your crew can't read your mind. If you know you prefer your bottles filled a certain way, want particular foods presented at certain times, or need space rather than conversation when things get tough, tell them.

Clear instructions aren't being demanding. They help your crew support you properly.

2. Good systems are built through experience.

If you look closely at Phil's setup, almost everything has a system.

Boxes are labelled. Equipment has a place. The plan outlines what needs to happen each hour. Crew members wear wristbands identifying their roles. Food, drinks and equipment are organised so they can be accessed quickly.

However, this system didn’t appear overnight.

The setup Phil has today is nowhere near the one he had when I first met him four years ago. It has evolved through racing, experimenting, noticing what works, finding what doesn't, and making adjustments.

You don't need to have the perfect system from day one. Start with a plan, test it, notice where there is friction and then improve it.

3. The less “admin” the athlete has to manage, the better.

While Phil is out running a loop, the crew is preparing food and drinks for the next one, tidying the tent, charging batteries and organising whatever will be needed when he returns.

When Phil is back on the chair, all he needs to focus on is resting or eating. Foot baths, massages, sunscreen, flask changes and equipment adjustments are handled around him.

Of course, most of us won't have a large crew at our next event. But the principle still applies.

What can you organise before the race so that tired-you has fewer decisions to make?

Maybe that means pre-packing food into portions, labelling drop bags, laying equipment out in a logical order or writing down your nutrition plan rather than relying on memory.

The goal is to reduce unnecessary decisions, mental load and wasted time.

Next week, I'll share some of my more specific lessons around Phil's nutrition during Project 168.

For now, I encourage you to follow along and, if you can, support the fundraising effort.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to meet Harrison and Nate, two vibrant kids who have benefited from programs, research and equipment made possible through Telethon funding. Seeing firsthand the impact support can have has made the purpose of this challenge feel much more tangible.

There’s a lot happening out on the course this week. But beyond the kilometres, the systems and the incredible endurance effort, that bigger purpose is worth remembering too.