How CrewLink Works & Technical Guide
A battery-efficient live GPS beacon and telemetry system designed for Garmin athletes, ultramarathons, trail running, and support crews.
3-Step Setup Walkthrough
Getting started with live telemetry takes under 2 minutes:
1
Claim Your Link
Register your runner handle on crewlink.run to get your permanent tracking link, unique 6-character Watch & Crew Key, and inbound tracking email.
2
Connect Your Watch
Choose your preferred method: Garmin LiveTrack (zero-install, add email to LiveTrack recipients), Connect IQ App (install from store & enter key in app settings), or COROS (add email as Safety Alerts contact).
3
Live Tracking for Crew
Press Start on your watch. Your crew and supporters open your clean link (crewlink.run/yourname) in any mobile or desktop browser—no apps, accounts, or logins required.
Watch Options & Connection Methods
CrewLink supports all Garmin and COROS GPS watches. Depending on your priority, choose between our zero-install email forwarding bridge or our native on-wrist Connect IQ data field:
| Feature | Garmin LiveTrack | Connect IQ Watch App | COROS Safety Alerts (Beta) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Experience | Zero-Install (Email Forwarding) | Connect IQ Data Field (App Store) | Zero-Install (Safety Alerts) |
| Watch App Required | No (Uses native Garmin Connect) | Yes (Free Connect IQ field) | No (Uses native COROS app) |
| Telemetry Interval | 1–2 min (Garmin native) | 15s, 30s, 1m, 2m, or 5m | 1–2 min (COROS native) |
| Spectator Cheering Count | No | Yes (Live on wrist) | No |
| Watch Battery % to Crew | Yes | Yes (Real-time %) | Estimated |
| Mountain Dead-Zone Buffering | No (Live stream only) | Yes (Point cache) | No |
| Aid Station ETAs & Profile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent Custom Link | Yes (crewlink.run/yourname) | Yes (crewlink.run/yourname) | Yes (crewlink.run/yourname) |
Which should I choose?
• Choose Garmin LiveTrack if you want zero-install setup using your existing Garmin Connect phone app.
• Choose Connect IQ Watch App if you want real-time spectator cheer counts on your wrist, watch battery % for your crew, and high-frequency 15s updates.
• Choose COROS Safety Alerts (Beta) for PACE, APEX, and VERTIX watches with zero apps installed.
• Choose Garmin LiveTrack if you want zero-install setup using your existing Garmin Connect phone app.
• Choose Connect IQ Watch App if you want real-time spectator cheer counts on your wrist, watch battery % for your crew, and high-frequency 15s updates.
• Choose COROS Safety Alerts (Beta) for PACE, APEX, and VERTIX watches with zero apps installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use CrewLink instead of native Garmin LiveTrack or COROS Safety Alerts?
Native Garmin LiveTrack and COROS Safety Alerts only send a temporary, random session link via email each time you run and display a basic dot on a standard map. CrewLink transforms this into a full endurance live race hub with a permanent URL (
crewlink.run/yourname), real-time checkpoint arrival countdowns (ETAs) along uploaded GPX courses, interactive elevation profiles, on-wrist spectator cheering counts (via Connect IQ), and zero-app spectator access.
Should I use Garmin LiveTrack or the Garmin Connect IQ Watch App?
Use Garmin LiveTrack for a zero-install setup with no watch app needed—ideal for quick runs or older Garmin watches. Use the Garmin Connect IQ App if you want to see how many people are watching you live on your wrist, report your watch battery level to your crew, and buffer points during mountain cellular dead zones.
How does Garmin LiveTrack setup work? (Zero-Install)
Add your personal
{code}@track.crewlink.run address as a recipient under Garmin Connect > More (...) > Safety & Tracking > LiveTrack and enable Auto Start. When you start any outdoor run on your Garmin watch, Garmin automatically emails your live track to CrewLink, which renders your live map with aid station ETAs.
How do I connect a COROS watch? (Beta)
In the COROS mobile app, tap Profile > Safety Alerts > Add Emergency Contact. Add your
{code}@track.crewlink.run email address and turn on Auto-Share Tracking. COROS integration is currently in active beta—please start a test run before race day and report any feedback to support@crewlink.run.
Is CrewLink free to use?
Yes, CrewLink is completely free during our public beta. While we may explore optional premium features in the future, core live tracking will always remain accessible for athletes and support crews.
Does my support crew need to install an app or create an account?
No. Support crews, friends, and family do not need to download an app or create an account. They simply open your personalized tracking link in any desktop or mobile browser to follow your live progress in real time.
Can I use CrewLink without a preloaded GPX course?
Yes. If you don't load a GPX course file, CrewLink still tracks your live GPS coordinates, distance, duration, elevation, pace, heart rate, and watch battery. Loading a GPX course enhances the experience by adding aid station arrival ETAs, route snapping, and elevation profiles.
Which Garmin devices are compatible with CrewLink?
CrewLink supports modern Garmin watches as well as select legacy models. Compatible models include Fenix 8, Fenix E, Fenix 7/7S/7X (Pro), Fenix 6 Pro Series (6 Pro, 6S Pro, 6X Pro, Sapphire; 5-min interval), Enduro 1 (5-min interval), Enduro 2 & 3, Epix (Gen 2 / Pro), Forerunner 945 / 945 LTE (5-min interval), Forerunner 965, 955, 265/265S, 255/255S, 165, Venu 3/3S, Vivoactive 5, and Instinct 3 / E series. Note: Base Fenix 6 (non-Pro/Silver) lacks the required memory and Wi-Fi hardware and is not supported.
Is CrewLink an App, a Widget, or a Data Field?
CrewLink is a lightweight Connect IQ Data Field app. This means you can add it directly as a data screen within your existing native Garmin activity profiles (e.g. Trail Run, Run, Ultra Run, Bike) without replacing your preferred sport app, navigation, or workout screens.
How much battery does CrewLink consume on my Garmin watch?
CrewLink is engineered for long runs, marathons, ultra runs, and multi-day events. Connect IQ 5.0.0+ allows high-efficiency foreground network calls with sub-kilobyte payloads. In standard 5-minute ping mode, battery impact is negligible (< 1–2% additional drain over 12 hours). Even in high-frequency 1-minute race mode, the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) burst is so brief that watch GPS and optical heart rate remain the dominant power consumers.
Does CrewLink require my phone during the activity?
Yes. CrewLink transmits live telemetry over Bluetooth from your Garmin watch to the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone, which uploads the data to the CrewLink live map over cellular data.
What happens when I enter a cellular dead zone with no reception?
Your Garmin watch continues recording your activity normally. The CrewLink live map displays your last known position and timestamp. As soon as your phone reconnects to cellular service, the latest live telemetry will resume broadcasting to your crew.
Can my crew see how much battery is left on my Garmin watch?
Yes. Live watch battery percentage is transmitted with every telemetry ping, so your support crew knows exactly when you might need a power bank or charger at an aid station.
How does CrewLink calculate Aid Station Arrival ETAs and Waypoints?
When a GPX course with waypoints is uploaded (or automatically extracted from a Garmin LiveTrack course), CrewLink categorizes checkpoints (Aid Stations, Water, Food, Cut-offs, Start/Finish) with semantic vector icons and calculates real-time ETAs for all upcoming checkpoints by projecting your rolling moving pace along the remaining trail distance of the route.
Can I track activities without a pre-loaded GPX course?
Yes. During free runs or unmapped workouts, CrewLink renders your live breadcrumb trail directly on the map, automatically placing a green Start pin at your origin and dropping an amber Finish pin when the activity completes.
How does Distance Calibration and GPS Drift Correction work?
Over long distances or under dense tree cover, Garmin watch GPS distance can drift relative to official race course markers. When Distance Calibration is enabled, CrewLink snaps your position to the GPX track and calibrates your progression to match the official course distance.
Can my support crew see their own location on the course map?
Yes. Spectators and crew members can tap "Show My Location" on the tracking page to display their real-time blue location marker on the course map, making it easy to navigate to the correct crew access point or cheer spot. Crew location stays strictly in the browser and is never stored on servers.
Why use CrewLink instead of WhatsApp Live Location or Google Maps Location Sharing?
While WhatsApp and Google Maps are designed for urban city navigation and short messaging, CrewLink is custom-engineered for endurance events and ultramarathons:
- Ultra-Endurance Battery Life (20–30+ Hours): Consumer messaging apps use your phone's power-hungry GPS chip continuously, draining the battery in 3–5 hours. CrewLink relies on your efficient Garmin watch GPS; your phone only transmits tiny background HTTP telemetry pings over Bluetooth Low Energy.
- Aid Station Arrival ETAs & Course Snapping: Generic maps only display a wandering blue dot on street tiles. CrewLink aligns your live position to the official race GPX course polyline and calculates real-time arrival forecasts for upcoming aid stations, road crossings, and cutoff points based on rolling pace and terrain gradient.
- Dead-Zone Buffer & Trail Recovery: Mountain valleys with no cellular reception cause WhatsApp or Google Maps to freeze or fail. CrewLink buffers breadcrumbs on your watch and automatically backfills your entire missing route the moment 4G/5G connectivity returns.
- Full Performance Telemetry: CrewLink streams live Heart Rate (BPM), Rolling Pace, Elevation gain, and Watch Battery percentage directly to your crew so they can prepare nutrition, electrolytes, and dry gear before you arrive.
- Zero-Friction Spectator Links: No app downloads, accounts, or phone number exchanges required. Share one permanent URL (
crewlink.run/yourname) that works in any mobile or desktop browser. - Live Supporter Counter on Watch: The Garmin watch data screen shows you in real time how many friends, family members, and crew are currently watching your live dashboard.
Can I make my live tracking private with a password?
Yes. In your Runner Settings, you can set an optional Crew Passcode. When enabled, spectators visiting your tracking link will be prompted to enter the passcode before viewing your live telemetry and map.
Can I upload multiple GPX courses to my profile?
Yes. You can save multiple GPX courses to your CrewLink library and switch between them anytime. You can also enable "Auto-Select on Watch Start" so CrewLink automatically detects and activates the course closest to your starting coordinates.
What happens on the map when I finish my run or pause my watch?
When you finish your activity on your Garmin watch, the live map status updates to "FINISHED" (or "STOPPED" / "PAUSED") and displays your complete trail, overall time, total distance, and ascent. Your track remains visible for your crew to review.
Does CrewLink support cycling, hiking, and other sports?
Yes. While optimized for trail and ultramarathon runners, the CrewLink datafield can be added to any Garmin activity profile including Cycling, Mountain Biking, Gravel, Hiking, Walking, and XC Skiing.
Live Telemetry & Metrics Specification
CrewLink transmits lightweight, low-overhead background beacons from your Garmin watch via your smartphone's Bluetooth connection to the live spectator dashboard.
| Telemetry Field | Metric Unit | Details |
|---|---|---|
| GPS Position | Latitude, Longitude | High-precision WGS84 coordinates from Garmin GPS/GNSS sensor. |
| Elapsed Time | hh:mm:ss | Accurate activity moving duration. |
| Distance Covered | Meters (km / miles) | Total workout distance, with optional GPX track calibration. |
| Pace & Speed | min/km (min/mi) & km/h (mph) | Current instantaneous speed and rolling session average pace. |
| Heart Rate | BPM | Live heart rate and overall workout average heart rate. |
| Elevation & Ascent | Meters (m / ft) | Current elevation and total cumulative elevation gain. |
| Watch Battery | Percentage (%) | Real-time Garmin watch battery level. |
| Activity State | Status String | Active, Paused, Stopped, or Completed with start timestamp. |
| Sport Identifier | Garmin Sport ID | Mapped to 60+ Garmin sport profiles (Trail Run, MTB, Gravel, Hike, etc.). |
Update Frequencies & Battery Conservation
- Live Activity Tracking: When recording a run or race, your Garmin watch automatically streams live GPS, pace, heart rate, and elevation directly to your dashboard. You can customize the update rate in Runner Settings (from 15 seconds up to 60 minutes, with 5 minutes as the ultra default). An instant beacon transmits the second you press Start on your watch so your crew knows you are moving immediately.
- Background Check-In: When you are not recording an active workout, optional periodic check-ins keep your location updated throughout the day (from every 5 minutes up to 2 hours, defaulting to 60 minutes) with virtually zero battery impact.
Ultra-Endurance Tested: At the standard 5-minute interval, CrewLink adds less than 1–2% additional battery usage over a 12-hour ultra on modern Garmin devices. Even at 1-minute updates, your Garmin easily powers through 20+ hours of continuous live tracking.
Device & Sport Compatibility
CrewLink operates on Garmin watches supporting Connect IQ System 7 (API Level 5.0.0+):
Supported Garmin Hardware:
- Fenix & Enduro Series: Fenix 8 (AMOLED & Solar), Fenix E, Fenix 7 / 7S / 7X (Standard & Pro), Enduro 3
- Epix Series: Epix (Gen 2), Epix Pro (42mm, 47mm, 51mm)
- Forerunner Series: Forerunner 965, 955, 265 / 265S, 255 / 255S / Music, 165 / 165 Music
- Venu & Vivoactive: Venu 3 / 3S, Vivoactive 5
- Instinct Series: Instinct 3 (AMOLED & Solar), Instinct E
Supported Sport Profiles:
Add the CrewLink Data Field into any built-in Garmin sport profile: Trail Running, Ultra Running, Running, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Gravel Riding, Hiking, Walking, Track Running, Treadmill, and Cross-Country Skiing.