The Air Force Marathon office has released its mobile app for the third year running. The app is just another way that race organizers are enhancing the race experience for all participants including runners, spectators and volunteers with an informative and interactive way to plan for and enjoy Air Force Marathon weekend.
“This app is built with the runner in mind,” said Rick Perron, Air Force Marathon marketing coordinator. “It’s there to keep runners informed but also to help them interact with the race.”
The app is a must-have item for those visiting the Sports and Fitness Expo scheduled for Sept. 13-14 at Wright State University’s Nutter Center, Perron said. The app provides maps and schedules for guest speakers so that runners don’t miss out on hearing from the experts as well as a list of all expo vendors so runners and spectators alike can easily find their favorite sports gear and nutrition.
Spectators, family members and friends can also use the app to track the progress of full and half marathon runners out on the course. The app offers text, social media or email notifications when runners pass designated waypoints on the course and provides anticipated finish times. To access these features, simply tap the “Runner Tracking” icon, enter some information and choose the preferred means of notification.
Runners can also review their race results through the app in two ways: by tapping the results icon and entering their bib number or by using the built-in QR code reader to scan the QR code on their race bib.
The app is also a great way to connect to social media with links to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat as well as a built-in social wall, according to Perron. It’s a way to generate excitement and allow users to share their race experience. Organizers also use it to push direct messages to runners to alert them to schedule changes or provide other timely event updates.
Runners can also choose to set up an optional profile and log in for advanced features such as “My Schedule” that allows them to add events that they plan on attending or “My Message” that allows them to communicate with other users who are logged in. However, logging in is not required and all functions will work without it.
The app is free to runners, spectators, volunteers and the general public. It works on Apple and Android devices, including tablets and even laptops. It can be downloaded from the Apple App store or Google Play.