Kenosha 2013: Real-Time Tracking (Start 7:00 a.m. Sat. May 4)

Thanks to the RunMeter app and my iPhone 3GS, there will real-time tracking of my progress this Saturday. The race begins at 7:00 a.m., and I just might challenge my personal best of 3:37:30 (8:18/mile pace).

When I start the race, after each mile, and when I finish, updates will be posted as follows:

• Facebook status created or updated
• Post created on this blog. You can see the format from my training runs earlier this week (on April 28th and 29th).
• E-mail updates sent to those who have asked to be subscribed. So far, this includes my parents, my brother, and a few friends. If you would like to be included, please let me know your e-mail address.

Each of the methods above should give you access to a map that gives you a rough idea of my current location.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

• The distance tracked by RunMeter is based on GPS information, not on the course's official mile markers. While it should be close to accurate, it's still an estimate. I use the lap button on my Garmin to obtain my splits for race recaps.
• GPS tracking should be fairly good in Kenosha, as the run doesn't go through any heavily-wooded areas. However, I may lose it at some point -- this happened in Minneapolis last year at about the halfway point. Runmeter first showed me running faster than 6:30/mile, and then it lost me entirely.
• Based on previous efforts, my battery will probably last through the end of the race. No guarantees. If posting stops as I near the finish, the battery is the likely cause.
• As with past RunMeter uses, comments and likes made on Facebook will be read out loud to me. However, I will not be wearing headphones, so I may not hear them clearly from the iPhone speaker.

I plan to do a final training run on Friday morning, and I'll have tracking activated for that as well. Wish me luck!