NYC Marathon to get new suite of spectator apps

Keeping track of runners during the New York City Marathon is about to get a lot easier, as New York Road Runners is pairing up with MapMyRUN to launch a next-generation suite of web, mobile and tablet spectator apps.

The apps are a bit different from other spectator and tracking oriented apps. For one thing, the apps are the first to integrate both popular RFID chip timing and GPS technology to allow the real time tracking of race participants. They’ll also let spectators view a list and search for race participants and get real-time text, email and mobile device push notification of runners’ progress.

Not only that, the apps will stream live race day video content from the course and give them access to the NYRR’s official map of the course, including elevation profile, mile markers, and points of interest such as best spectator viewpoints, race course entertainment and first aid, hydration and food stations.

The ING New York City Marathon is set for Nov. 6, 2011, and the new apps will be available for download by Oct. 28, 2011. The suite of applications will be available at the Apple App store, Android marketplace and through NYRR.