Marathon Runner Tracking??

[cewait]

Originally Posted by guava

I just upgraded to Elite. Do my spectators have to sign up for it too? And how do they find my live tracking? I want to try this out during tomorrow's run.

Great idea! Play with it before going out. All they need to do is know your ID on RK. It's been a couple months since I was in there. It is not 100% obvious, until you have done it once. Let me know if you cannot find the page and I will dig into it again. Note it can take a minute or two for you to show up live. You can play from the couch to see if you pop up, then walk to the mail box and back.. your computer should show the trip.

OH one other battery tip. Turn the screen off (the top button on the iPhone) after starting the run. That will also save on battery life.

I am trying the MapMyRun app this AM to see how bullet proof it is. My brother did not remember RK and signed up for it. Want to keep the sherpas less confused.

[PRmamiDEdos]

Originally Posted by belle2211

I use Runkeeper but question about the Elite--does it have a feature where you can hear "cheering" or something when someone comments on your status on facebook? I saw something like that for Nike + and I think I would like it if the Elite did that too.

No cheering on Runkeeper. It's only on Nike+.

[magicLAL12]

Again, I always seem to ask silly questions, so please bear with me...


This Runner Tracker offered by Disney.. does the runner have to text his/her spectators manually? Or does the service automatically send split times to the spectators without the runner having to do anything (other than having their phone on them)?

[chris84bond]

Originally Posted by magicLAL12

Again, I always seem to ask silly questions, so please bear with me...


This Runner Tracker offered by Disney.. does the runner have to text his/her spectators manually? Or does the service automatically send split times to the spectators without the runner having to do anything (other than having their phone on them)?

DisTracking is done by the B chip on the bib. At the 5/10/half?/20 mile markers, there are raised "track's" you run over that mark your time. Their system then sends the associated text/email to the spectator. No phone needed on the runners part

The main thing is you need to sign them up for it or have them sign up to get the alerts for you.

[cewait]

Originally Posted by chris84bond

DisTracking is done by the B chip on the bib. At the 5/10/half?/20 mile markers, there are raised "track's" you run over that mark your time. Their system then sends the associated text/email to the spectator. No phone needed on the runners part

The main thing is you need to sign them up for it or have them sign up to get the alerts for you.

Or the 5, 10 and 15K mats in the half.


A CRITICAL thing that folks who sign up must do... When signing up, the phone or email account signed up will receive a confirmation message. you MUST respond to the message or you will not be able to receive the updates.

[JeffW]

Originally Posted by cewait

Not unless it is new. I am a runkeeper elite member.

For those who do not think runkeeper or other phone apps will work asa long as you are on course...

Turn OFF the WiFi and 3G/4G antennas. The battery will last longer than the length of the marathon time limit, by a large margin. It's amazing how many folks do no know you can shut down some of these antennas.

If you are using RunKeeper Live for real time updates, however, only turn off wireless and NOT 3G/4G. It needs a data connection to keep updating the RunKeeper servers

[JeffW]

Originally Posted by guava

I just upgraded to Elite. Do my spectators have to sign up for it too? And how do they find my live tracking? I want to try this out during tomorrow's run.

A couple of things. In the Settings menu of the app itself, you need to select the check box for "RunKeeper Live", so it will push data to the server. Unless your family has RunKeeper accounts, you'll also want to go into "Activities Viewable By" and select "Everyone". Then give your family the web address for your RunKeeper page (runkeeper.com/user/YOURID where you replace YOURID with your username). Make sure you have GPS enabled on your phone. I definitely recommend a trial run or two, as it took me a view attempts to get the settings right.

[cewait]

Originally Posted by JeffW

If you are using RunKeeper Live for real time updates, however, only turn off wireless and NOT 3G/4G. It needs a data connection to keep updating the RunKeeper servers

My bad, you are correct.

[Bephus]

One thing I noticed in the free app, if you are not sure about the expense, you can do a one-month trial to upgrade for $5 instead of the one-year $20. Yes, that is a lot more if you do end up doing it for the whole year, but if only interested in this one run it could be cheaper option.

Also, if you have the Find my Friends app DH thinks it can work in a similar way. Although that is only on iPhones I believe.

[JeffW]

Originally Posted by JeffW

A couple of things. In the Settings menu of the app itself, you need to select the check box for "RunKeeper Live", so it will push data to the server. Unless your family has RunKeeper accounts, you'll also want to go into "Activities Viewable By" and select "Everyone". Then give your family the web address for your RunKeeper page (runkeeper.com/user/YOURID where you replace YOURID with your username). Make sure you have GPS enabled on your phone. I definitely recommend a trial run or two, as it took me a view attempts to get the settings right.

Ok, I'm going to edit my own suggestion, as my wife tried to track me and something has changed in the last month or so. If you just go to runkeeper.com/user/YOURID , and you aren't signed in to a runkeeper account, it just shows summary information and asks if you want to sign up. It appears that the solution is to send people to runkeeper.com/user/YOURID/activity I'm going to have the kids go out for a Mickey Mile practice now, so I'll see if that works

[Ariel484]

Originally Posted by KippWade

I'm greatly disappointed that tracking information isn't up. Several of my co-workers were asking about it this year, as they tracked me last year.

I took a peek back in my Blog, and I noticed that I posted my tracking information on December 28th. So we are later this year in getting this information, if it comes at all!

A couple of coworkers follow me online, so I let them know if nothing is posted this weekend or before I leave work on Tuesday, I'll post it up so hopefully they can share it with those that are interested.

Originally Posted by rocio

But wasn't the race a week earlier last year? If so, the timing is still about the same.

Yes, the race last year was January 8...which was also why the Christmas decorations were still up. I'm expecting them to post the tracking information early this week.

[PRmamiDEdos]

Originally Posted by Bephus

One thing I noticed in the free app, if you are not sure about the expense, you can do a one-month trial to upgrade for $5 instead of the one-year $20. Yes, that is a lot more if you do end up doing it for the whole year, but if only interested in this one run it could be cheaper option.

Also, if you have the Find my Friends app DH thinks it can work in a similar way. Although that is only on iPhones I believe.

Google phones have Latitude.

[magicLAL12]

Originally Posted by chris84bond

DisTracking is done by the B chip on the bib. At the 5/10/half?/20 mile markers, there are raised "track's" you run over that mark your time. Their system then sends the associated text/email to the spectator. No phone needed on the runners part

The main thing is you need to sign them up for it or have them sign up to get the alerts for you.

Oh, I see. That's nice, I thought you would need to have a phone (which I wasn't planning on carrying). Thank you for your help!

Originally Posted by cewait

Or the 5, 10 and 15K mats in the half.


A CRITICAL thing that folks who sign up must do... When signing up, the phone or email account signed up will receive a confirmation message. you MUST respond to the message or you will not be able to receive the updates.

Good advice, thank you!

[stitchfan18]

I hope the runner tracking is far separated from all the computer issues at disney as of late. I'm beginning to wonder if the delay has to do with computers, it is much closer to the race than last year.

[guava]

Originally Posted by JeffW

Ok, I'm going to edit my own suggestion, as my wife tried to track me and something has changed in the last month or so. If you just go to runkeeper.com/user/YOURID , and you aren't signed in to a runkeeper account, it just shows summary information and asks if you want to sign up. It appears that the solution is to send people to runkeeper.com/user/YOURID/activity I'm going to have the kids go out for a Mickey Mile practice now, so I'll see if that works

Thanks! When I was playing around with it I couldn't figure out how to view without signing up. I'll try activity and see if that works.