The Boston Marathon Runs on RFID Technology

Are you looking for ways to enhance your endurance events? Are you looking for new ways that technology is impacting the sports marketplace?

Network World recently created a terrific feature that profiles the use of RFID technology at the 2010 Boston Marathon. All participants were given an RFID tag to wear in their shoe that accurately gauged their finish time and progress along the course.

The video demonstrates how RFID technology will continue to change the way marathons and related endurance events are run by race organizers. Tracking tools are already leading to new advancements in text messaging, which allows friends, family, and fans to follow the progress of race participants as they complete the course. Pretty amazing.

Check out this terrific look at the use of RFID technology at the Boston Marathon below:

Nike Gives Marathon Fans All New Access on Race Day

Are you looking for new ways to bring your marathon events to life for consumers? Are you looking to showcase celebrities participating in your events?

In November 2009, Nike and BBDO teamed up to create a unique application that enabled people to receive real-time updates from celebrities, runners, and journalists participating in the Nike+ Human Race 10L Live from Argentina.

Nike provided five (5) select runners with iPhones that transmitted their voice recordings (during the race) into text messages that were posted on Twitter and related social networking websites. The phones were also equipped with GPS devices, allowing fans, participants, and onlookers the ability to track their exact location on the course when sending the message.

The tactic served as an effective way for Nike to bring the actions, thoughts, and emotions of its celebrity participants to life for all to enjoy. Check out how they implemented the campaign below: