How can you follow a friend who's running in the Boston Marathon on Monday?
That question was posed by one of our readers.
Whether you're following the leaders, like these women in the photo from last year's race, or a back-of-the-pack pal, the ID tags worn by the runner's will allow you follow their progress.
* UPDATE This is an old post try: Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner (2012)
On the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Website
"Visitors to www.baa.org on April 21 will be able to track official runners in the Boston Marathon as they pass eleven checkpoints along the race course. Checkpoint data will be transmitted via the ChampionChip timing and scoring device, worn on the runners' shoelace, and made available to the public on the B.A.A.'s website.
By entering in an athlete's bib number or first and last name on the B.A.A.'s Athlete Tracking website, users of the feature can follow a runner's progress as they cross the start, 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K, half marathon mark, 25K, 30K, 35K, 40K and finish line."
This feature will not show up on the BAA site until race day. The BAA says, "The 'face' of the Boston Marathon website will change on race day and the process on how to enter the search will be clear."
Mobile Phone Alert System
The Boston Athletic Association has also set up "The AT&T Athlete Alert program." This allows anyone with a cell phone that can receive text messages to track a runner. Here's the link to that system. To take part in this program, you must be registered by 6:00 am on race day.
http://baa.org/BostonMarathon/Att-Athlete-Alert.asp
Where are the leaders & crowd favorites?
For a rough idea of where the leaders of the race are in relation to your viewing position, just watch the sky for the helicopters that hover above them.
For favorites you must rely on the roar of the crowd as they approach. Or, you can track your favorite by using the mobile alert system. For example, Boston.com reports that Bill Rogers will be "... wearing bib number 79 in his 60th attempt at a marathon and his 17th here."
(photo © 2008 Penny Cherubino)
Here's a popular book about the marathon in the words of some of Boston's best known runners.
Click here for more Boston Marathon Books
