A good crew is a bit like a comfy bra – you don’t realise it’s there, because it’s just doing its job without any attention or expectation. Crewing is a selfless task, as it involves the same travel, early starts, long days, and exposure to the elements, but without the accomplishment of actually doing the event.So when the time came for me to be of service to someone wanting to run a bloody long way, I was there, keen to experience what crew life was like.My friend in trail running and environmentalism, Karin Traeger, had long wanted to run the length of the Yarra River, from the source in the Yarra Ranges to the mouth at Port Melbourne.  It was a 280km journey, tracing the length of the river through forests, across creeks, along highways, and through cities over six long, fulfilling, and memorable days.Despite being a somewhat seasoned trail runner myself, being on the backend of the adventure was a whole new experience, and one that has given me a new appreciation for the people like Jess who offer their time, kindness, and energy unreservedly.Let me share with you the lessons learnt along the way, and hopefully inspire the sane non-ultra-runners amongst us to embrace the crew life.