How do you share your live location while ultrarunning?
To share your live location while ultrarunning, start a location share on your phone before the run, send the link to one or two people who will actually watch it, and plan for battery and signal over many hours. With Holler, your Guardians open a private live link in any browser, no app or account needed. For long days, pair the link with a return time and a written route, because the dot will freeze in dead zones and your battery has to last to the finish.
Step by step
01Pick your Guardians for the long haul
A run that lasts all day or through the night needs someone who can check in at odd hours. Choose one or two Guardians, tell them your expected finish and give them your route file or the race tracking page if there is one.
02Start the share at the trailhead
Open Holler, start your share and confirm your Guardians can see your dot before you leave cell coverage. It's easier to fix a problem in the parking lot than at mile twelve.
03Budget battery for the whole day
Live location, GPS watches and music all compete for power. Carry a battery pack and a short cable, keep the screen off and store the phone where it won't overheat or freeze. Low Power Mode on iPhone cuts background activity, which can also slow location updates, so try it on a long training run before race day. Charge at aid stations if you can.
04Add a return time with a real buffer
Ultras run long in ways nobody predicts. Set a Holler return time for when you'd truly be overdue, and extend it from the trail if you're slow but fine. If you don't check in five minutes after it, your Guardians get an overdue alert even if the app is closed.
05Explain dead zones to your Guardians
Tell your Guardians that the dot will stall in canyons and forests and jump forward later. A frozen dot means no signal, not trouble. Their job is to watch the return time, and to act if it passes.
06Hand over at the night section
On runs that go through the night, the person watching at noon may be asleep at 2 a.m. Add a second Guardian who takes the overnight hours, and check sunset on the daylight tool so they know roughly when you'll switch to headlamp pace and slow down.
Related questions
Can I use my watch's tracking instead?
Many GPS watches and running apps offer live tracking, and some ultrarunners use both. Our guides on sharing Garmin LiveTrack and using Strava Beacon explain how those work. Holler adds Guardian alerts: SOS, return time and optional stationary alerts.
How do I keep my phone alive for a 12-hour run?
Start at full charge, carry a battery pack, close apps you don't need and keep the screen off. Low Power Mode saves power but reduces background activity, which may slow updates. Cold weather drains batteries, so keep the phone close to your body. If it dies, Guardians still see your last known location.
Should I use a stationary alert on a long ultra?
It helps if you pick a long time. Holler's optional stationary alert asks "Are you OK?" when you've stopped moving for the time you choose. Aid stations, bathroom breaks and short rests can add up, so choose a threshold longer than your longest planned stop.
What does my Guardian actually see?
Your route so far as a line on the map, your latest position, and how long ago it last updated, with old positions marked as stale. If you send an SOS, they get your location by email and push. They don't need Holler installed; the live location sharing explainer covers the details.
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Sources, checked September 2026: Apple Support: Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.