Falmouth Road Race Offering Remote Participation

Outside Interactive’s virtual race app will allow you to experience the historic race from anywhere.

This year’s New Balance Falmouth Road Race will be making history. For the first time, remote participants from around the world will be able to take part in an interactive race day experience, race officials announced today.

The Falmouth Road Race has partnered with Outside Interactive, a Hopkinton, Mass.-based developer of forward motion video software technology for treadmill runners, to create a digital race-day experience for runners who want to officially participate in the August 16 race but didn’t make the field or can’t make the live event.

Runners will take part in the Falmouth Road Race by utilizing Outside Interactive’s Virtual Runner app and custom HD course video download, which they access and view on their treadmill via an iPad (iOS) or tablet (Android). Remote participants will be able to actually experience and see the course at their exact pace, as it was filmed from a runner’s point of view and includes all the electricity and excitement of race day.

“For runners who want to be a part of the Falmouth Road Race but didn’t get in, or find themselves stationed overseas or otherwise geographically challenged, this is the next best thing to being there,” said Gary McNamee, founder and president of Outside Interactive. “We’re thrilled that Falmouth recognizes the value in offering this new, forward-thinking opportunity to displaced runners.”

Registration for remote entrants, which will cost $40, will begin on May 8th following online registration for Falmouth residents (May 1-7) and the lottery for non-residents (May 8-17), which fills the iconic American road race to its capacity of 12,000 each year. Remote participants will register in the same fashion as the live event, but use the “Remote Participant” option. The registration fee includes a downloadable Virtual Runner app for iPad or Android tablets, a downloadable version of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race interactive race course video, a downloadable custom bib which can be printed and used on race day, a onetime activation code which will track your time for your participation in the race, a downloadable Official Finisher’s Certificate upon completion, transmission and receipt of your results by the race and an official recording of your results on the race website in a new “Remote Participant” category. Participants in the continental U.S. will be mailed a New Balance Falmouth Road Race Reusable gift bag, official coffee mug, official race magazine and official New Balance Falmouth Road Race keychain. Remote participants also will be automatically entered in a special lottery for a chance to run the event live in 2016.

“We view this as a win-win for the New Balance Falmouth Road Race and running enthusiasts all over the region and the world,” said Scott Ghelfi, race president. “Our race is extremely popular and we know there are many people who want to run but can’t. Giving them the opportunity to officially be a part of the race and run the course, in a virtual way, from anywhere – something that’s never been done before – is exciting to us.”