When I did my 600k, I had a plan to text message a friend periodically so she would know I was ok. (The updates were pretty funny. When I get to my other computer, I may cut and paste them for a laugh here.)

Of course, when DH asked that I do the same thing this weekend at DMD, and my phone wouldn't save the text to send when I got into cell range it all got VERY frustrating.

It might be good to have a friend at the checkpoint, but weigh that against issues of (1) now having to be at the checkpoint at a certain time for the friend; (2) possibly taking too long at the checkpoint because of the friend (3) possibly hitting a low at the checkpoint and having the friend there be an excuse not to go on. Just throwing a lot of stuff out there as stuff I would consider. For example, I purposely did the texting thing instead of calling people because I didn't want to get emotional while calling someone and that would be counterproductive toward forward progress. That was for a 600k, and it really could have happened, whereas for the 400k, it wasn't really an issue, but we all have our thresholds and they are adjustable. I just throw it out there.