No Strider left behind

Written by Donna Macauley

No Strider Left Behind

When you see “No Strider Left Behind” in a run description, what does that mean exactly? It means that the Highland City Striders is a club that includes everyone. It means that you can join us and if you run at a slower pace, you won’t run alone, someone will circle back and run with you. It means that if something happens on a run, we’ll support you and make sure you get home safe and sound. 

For road runners, if you join a “no strider left behind” run it means that the priority of the run is not to go as fast or as far as possible. The priority of the run is comradery and friendship and allowing people to explore new road routes without worrying about getting lost. You can join the run and feel confident that you’ll return to the start in the posted amount of distance. 

For trail runners, it means that we regroup at every trail crossing and allow slower paced runners to catch up. The priority of a trail run is not the speed of the run, but being in the woods together, enjoying the views, the flowers and the brooks and learning new trails without getting lost. 

Even though we have these rules and guidelines, crap happens and every once in a while a runner will break off from the group for whatever reason. What do we do when we get back to the parking lot and notice that a Strider is missing? We go back and find them!! 

Here are some tips for efficient search parties: 

First off, if you feel your missing Strider is in danger, call 911 for professional help. 

Otherwise: 

• Call the missing Strider’s cell phone, if possible. 
• Call their home, just in case they cut the run short and went directly home.
• Determine the last time and place the missing Strider was seen. 
• Map the area and assign search teams. Divide the search into grids and assign specific streets or trails to ensure coverage. 
• Make one person responsible for tracking each group’s search progress on the map. 
• Encourage everyone to carry their phone.
• Create a group text of including all the searchers. “Share location” for an hour (more on location sharing in a future tip Tuesday). 
• Carry extra layers of clothing and water while you search. 
• Report back to the group text with any relevant information, especially when the Strider is found!