By HPRS Race Director John Lacroix
“My son is running in your event this weekend and I want to know exactly where he is, how can I live track him?”
I couldn’t even begin to venture a guess on how many times I’ve received this email, or one very similar to it, over the years. Once a few trail and ultrarunning events starting live tracking runners on course, it became an instant expectation that ALL trail and ultrarunning events would do the same. Live tracking isn’t an easy or cheap science on the race’s end, considerable challenges to live tracking have been realized by those who offer it, and there are a few options that allow you to have family and friends live-track you on your own accord. In this article I’m going to explain all the above.
I started running ultramarathons in 2003 (read: that’s almost 20 years ago). At the time, there was no live tracking at any trail and ultramarathon running events. Hell, the first wearable Garmin GPS watch (Forerunner 101) was released in 2003, introducing the market to GPS technology for runners for the very first time. Yeah, I’ve been running ultras longer than wearable GPS technology has been around. The technology back then was very young, flawed, and incredibly inaccurate. So new was the tech, that the idea of tracking a runner LIVE over mountainous terrain was still a far-off futuristic idea.
The first time “live” tracking was provided in our sport was at the 2009 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, a service offered by ultralive.net (https://www.ultralive.net/) who still provides live tracking of runners at select trail and ultra-events to this day. Today, ultralive.net sees over 3 million page views during race weekend for the Western States 100. How it works is perhaps not how you may think it works. There is no “tracking device” on any runner that transmits a runner’s exact position on the Western States course. Instead, the tracking software relies on data collected by volunteers, then that information is uploaded to the ultralive.net database.
What you see as “Live Tracking” is just the reported time of a runner having come through aid stations throughout. That information is communicated to race HQ via HAM radio, cell phone, timing mats, email/text, or directly from an aid station with sufficient service. In other words, someone has personally verified your position and then typed that information in to a database. No satellite/GPS locating is used. The program then makes an educated guess on your current position and arrival time to the next reporting station, based on the information provided to the database. It’s based on the average of your latest historical data, a prediction. (Learn More: https://www.ultralive.net/pdf/ultralive_rd_guide.pdf)
OpenSplitTime (https://www.opensplittime.org/) is another web-based application that provides the same kind of service as described by UltraLive.net. Essentially, live tracking is only possible so long as aid stations record the time the runner arrives at the aid station and transmits that information to the server. No satellite/GPS. Volunteers uploading data to an online interface. You may have seen OST used at races in your area as well.
It should be noted that it takes a considerable volunteer-based effort to allow live tracking of runners through both Ultralive.net and OpenSplitTime.org, and other platforms like it. Races need a specific timing manager to gather and transmit the information to the database and server. It requires volunteers being 100% accurate with runner tracking at aid stations. If there aren’t enough volunteers to assist with tracking, or if there isn’t enough service/internet to be able to transmit the information, runner tracking at the event breaks down completely.
Also in 2009 the sport was introduced to Trackleaders (http://trackleaders.com/) which has been a game changer. Trackleaders uses SPOT trackers to live track a runner’s exact position on a course via GPS/Satellite technology. For this to work, all runners in a race must carry a Spot Tracker on their person. That spot tracker needs to be high on the runner’s body, with unobstructed direct communication to satellites out in space. If you’ve ever seen it work, you may notice spot trackers attached to the shoulder strap of a runner’s pack. In other words, you can’t just drop a spot tracker into your running pack, or attach it to your waist, and expect it to work flawlessly. It needs to be as high as it can get with an unobstructed view to space.
How much does something like Trackleaders cost to utilize? I honestly have no idea. In the 2-3x I have emailed them to inquire about their services, they’ve never responded. So instead I ended up diving in to research to see how HPRS might be able to do it on our own…
First, I have to buy Spot Trackers at $100 per unit. The most I could ever see using at at a single HPRS event is 200, so let’s say I want 200 units. 200 x $100/ea = $20,000. Then each individual unit needs to be activated with a spot tracker service plan. This comes out to $12/month plus a $29.95 activation fee. $29.95 x 200 = $5,990, $12/mo x 200 = $2,400. So our first year of live tracking would cost us $28,390.00 (not including taxes); then to keep the units operational for the entire year after would be $8,390 for the 200 units. This is obviously not cheap and no, we’re not rolling in the dough so much that we can just pull the trigger and run with it. Simply put, the technology is out there but those with the technology in their hands have created a barrier to our using it in the costs they charge to use it. (I even asked for a bulk order/fleet discount and what they offered was laughable.)
As of the writing of this article, I am currently working on an agreement with a company to live track runners on our courses. For those using the company’s mobile app: For it to work, all participants would need to download the app, make sure location services is turned on, then run with their phone; and then every time they have decent enough cell service, I’ll have each runner’s last known location (where they had service) at my fingertips. We would also be able to live track runners at race HQ using other devices like a Garmin inReach or a Spot Tracker (if you didn’t want to use your phone). Essentially we’ve figured out a way to implement this technology at HPRS for a fraction of the cost of purchasing our own units, or working with someone like Trackleaders who won’t return our emails anyway.
Q: “So would my family be able to live track me online with this new service you may be entering into an agreement with?”
A: This is one of the final details we’ll be working out as we continue to move forward. As a race management company, it is far more important for us to have the ability to live track you, than to have your family live track you, or for no one to be able to live track you at all. Again, the technology is changing quickly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be willing or able to offer live tracking for those following along at home.
Why? Look, we’ve seen it countless times. A company purchases their own RFID (chip timing) tools and software to the tune of $20,000 or more. When the race hits, there are a ton of snags, the software lags or breaks down, and next thing you know race organizers are inundated with emails “I can’t follow my runner on your website, WTF?! Shame on you, go to hell!” that it’s honestly not worth the trouble. HPRS may have 15 races, but we’re still a small family owned and operated operation that has trouble filling the volunteer slots we need to host a successful event as it is. The last thing we have time for are angry emails from family or friends who can’t always see your exact location due to a breakdown in technology. When I am looking for live tracking solutions at HPRS, I’m honestly not looking at solving the issue for your friends and family. I’m looking at solving the issue for our own risk management practices at HPRS. Your family and friends live tracking you through our technologies would be a bonus.
That said… THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
STRAVA
Strava Beacon allows you to share your real-time location with your family and friends so long as you are recording your journey with the Strava mobile app (on either iPhone or Android devices). Beacon generates a unique URL that you can share with up to three safety contacts that allows them to follow your activity in real-time. Of course, this will only work when you have cell service. So if you should lose service of course, you won’t appear to have moved on the map, and once you reobtain service Strava will update your map with your most up to date location. Keep in mind, and your loved ones should note, that if you lose service it will stop providing a live track of your location and will only show your last known location. This means you may appear “stopped” on course for extended periods of time, which will ultimately be cause for alarm by your loved ones.
Only Strava Subscribers can use Strava Beacon on devices other than your phone. These devices include Apple Watch, Wear OS devices, and any Garmin device that supports LiveTrack with autostart. It does not appear that this technology will work with Coros or Suunto at this time.
CALTOPO
CalTopo is a leading mapping and tracking interface for Search and Rescue, GIS professionals, and individuals. The first option with CalTopo is recording a track to a shared map. Any mobile tracks that are being saved to a map will upload in near real time with a data connection or as soon as a data connection is reestablished. This function does allow for real time tracking for anyone viewing the map if the team members in the field have a reliable data connection. You can also record a live track using a locator like Garmin inReach. The second option allows someone to add their device as a “locator” to a map they’ve already created. So theoretically, you could download the GPX file for one of our races, upload it to CalTopo, then use your phone as a locator. You’d share your created map with family and friends, and they can see you on it. Here’s How: CLICK HERE
FIND MY iPHONE
Did you know that you can share your iPhone’s location with any of your other contacts who also own an iPhone? Here’s how:
On your iPhone, go to Settings. Scroll down to “Privacy” and click on it. Make sure “Location Services” is turned on (green) and then touch “Share my location.” On this next page, make sure “Find My iPhone” is turned ‘On’ as well as “Share My Location.” Now, leave settings and go to your contacts. Click on the contact you want to share your location with. At the bottom of their contact screen it should say “Share my location.” Touch that and it will give you the option to share indefinitely, until end of day, or for one hour.
Now in order for your family member or friend to see your location on their end, all they need to do is open the “Find my iPhone” app on their iPhone. On the bottom of the app’s screen, on the far left, it says “People”… and this is where they will see your phone with your last known location (with service) on a map. Boom.. your family can live track you while you run.
GOOGLE MAPS
Open Google Maps on your phone. Next to the search bar on the top is your profile picture, click on your profile picture. A menu will pop up. Look down the menu and you’ll see “Location Sharing.” Click on it. On the next page you are provided the opportunity to share your location by clicking the “Share location” button. On the next menu are options for how long you will share you location for, and the google contacts you wish to share it with. If you click “More options” on the bottom of the screen, a “Share with a link?” menu will pop up and you can send that link to any of your contacts or via email.
OTHER PHONES & APPS
Android devices can utilize Google’s app called “Find My Device” in the same was iPhone users can use “Find My iPhone.” To find out more, CLICK HERE. I also found this article discussing how to track an iPhone with an Android Phone, CLICK HERE, and this article on how to track an Android phone from an iPhone, CLICK HERE.
There are other similar live tracking apps on the market as well such as Life360
Finally, if you haven’t familiarized yourself with the new Apple Watch Ultra or iPhone 14 (yes, we know they’re expensive) you owe it to yourself to investigate the new technologies on these devices that allow you to live broadcast your location to loved ones and Search and Rescue personnel.
Look, there are plenty of options out there that allows you to LIVE Broadcast your run, and location, to family and friends that does not include the race director or race you’re running in. For some of you, it has become increasingly important to your loved ones that they be able to always know of your exact whereabouts on race day. Trust us, we know it is. I hope you’ll trust us when we say that while the technology is certainly getting closer, we’re still not quite there yet. As always at HPRS, some of the onus falls on you to provide the peace of mind that your family members require. Ultimately, if it’s that important to your loved ones, have them come out and volunteer. Then they’ll know where you are, and get to see you while you’re out there.