Choose a point beyond the controlled area
Use the event’s finish map to identify where runners can actually meet supporters. The line itself may be separated from public space by a long exit route, bag collection or barriers. Pick a fixed landmark beyond that process. Include which side of the landmark you mean when several approaches look similar.
Share the location in writing and save it on both phones. A photograph or map pin can help, but add a plain description in case the image fails to load. Avoid a place that obstructs a path, emergency access or the flow from the finishing funnel. The easiest landmark to see is not always the best place to stand.
For a group with limited mobility, check the walking approach as carefully as the landmark itself. Stairs, an unpaved verge or a long detour can make an apparently nearby meeting place unsuitable. Choose a location everyone can reach without relying on a barrier being moved.
Agree what happens if the plan slips
Set a broad expectation for when you might arrive and recognise that leaving the finish area takes time. Do not make a supporter interpret every delay as a missing runner. If you can send an update safely after finishing, do so from a place where you are not blocking others. Keep the message specific: where you are going and whether the meeting point has changed.
Choose a fallback that does not involve both people moving continuously. For example, one person stays at the agreed landmark while the other completes bag collection, with a separate sheltered alternative if the first place becomes unusable. The exact arrangement depends on the event, but it should be known before phone batteries or reception become a problem.
Keep the onward journey separate from the first reunion. You can meet, collect yourselves and then move towards transport together, rather than trying to identify a vehicle in a busy restricted street. If somebody else is holding your bag, label it clearly and confirm which person has it. A small amount of clarity before the race prevents a surprising number of unnecessary searches afterwards.
