Hospital Hill Run Selected For Software Testing
Real-time updates on a participant's progress will be available via posts to Facebook, Twitter or email.
Real-time updates on a participant’s progress will be available via posts to Facebook, Twitter or email.
From: Running USA.org
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fans and friends of 2011 Hospital Hill Run participants on Saturday, June 4 will be able to track athletes during the UMKC School of Medicine 5K, 10K and half-marathon races, thanks to a partnership between the Hospital Hill Run and MarathonTracks.
“MarathonTracks is both honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with a great race like the Hospital Hill Run as one of the final beta trials of our new software. We hope that the near real-time updates to Facebook, Twitter and email make their experience in this great race even more special by keeping everyone in their social networks up to date on their progress towards the finish line,” Chris Lieberman, partner in MarathonTracks.
MarathonTracks provides near real-time updates on a participants progress in the 38th Hospital Hill Run via posts to Facebook, Twitter or email. Participants can register for the free service, which is in its final beta testing stages at www.marathontracks.com. MarathonTracks will post the updates as participants cross the various electronic timing mats on the course.
During the Hospital Hill Run disposable RFID chips will track runners throughout the race.
“When the runners go over a mat, time data will be collected,” said Beth Salinger, Hospital Hill Run Race Director. “It takes a date stamp and it will wirelessly transmit it to use in the data center here for scoring results, as well as keeping friends and fans of those running up to speed on the latest times.”
To sign up for live updates from the Hospital Hill Run, search twitter for the hashtag #hospitalhillrun or by following Hospital Hill Run on Facebook. Family and friends watching the race can also sign up on the Marathon Tracks website to follow any runner.
Hospital Hill Run is the oldest road race in Kansas City and the one of the oldest half-marathons in the United States. First held in 1974 with a field of 99 athletes, Hospital Hill Run has grown in size and stature in the ensuing years, recently being named one of the top races in the country by Runner’s World magazine. Past competitors include such running legends as Olympic gold medalists Frank Shorter and Billy Mills and running legends Bill Rodgers and Jim Ryun, as well as over 100,000 ordinary Kansas and Missouri citizens running for the challenge, fun and fitness. In 2010 Hospital Hill Run hosted its largest field ever, when over 7,400 athletes took to the Kansas City streets.