First, you need the official app. Download it before race day. Trust me on this. The servers get hit harder than the runners at mile 20.
You’ll punch in their bib number or name. Then, the real fun begins. You’ll refresh the screen like a maniac, waiting for that tiny dot to move.
It’s not like tracking a pizza delivery. That dot moves slowly. Very, very slowly. You will question if your runner has taken a nap on the Embankment.
The Quirky Truth About GPS
Here’s a weird fact: the GPS in the tracker is sometimes drunk. Your runner might appear to be swimming across the Thames. Don’t panic; they’re probably just under a big tree or a building.
The official tracking mat only pings at certain points. Every 5km, you get a “real” update. In between? It’s pure, educated guesswork. You become a detective of pace charts.
You’ll shout, “They’re at Cutty Sark!” but they’re actually two miles past it. It’s a beautiful lie we all tell ourselves.
