GPS Tracking

A lot can happen over the distance of 26 miles, 385 yards. That’s the worldwide-accepted length of a marathon run. Health and weather, collisions and wavering off the official path are just a few of the mishaps that can reflect on the outcome of a race.

At one time, television cameras and spotters, coaches and trainers along the way were our only options for marathon updates. Today GPS tracking technology is a proven training and reporting tool in marathon runs.

GPS tracking systems will record the distance covered and the speed of marathon runners. The tracking system has the ability to plot the position of runners, anywhere on earth through the science of orbiting satellite transponders. A set of 24 satellites maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense is used for GPS, also known as the Global Positioning System.

A GPS tracking receiver, operating on an object on the surface of earth, catches satellite signals. The GPS tracking device can calculate the difference in signal frequencies from different satellites, and it uses that data to determine the exact location of the receiver. Position updates are logged at regular intervals. That is how a marathon runner’s speed and position on the course is determined.

Precise GPS Tracking Measurements

The reliability of a GPS tracking device depends on several variables, including the engineering of the vehicle tracking unit, the frequency of sampling points, and whether there is obstruction of signal delivery. There are many powerful GPS tracking systems which have a location accuracy rate of less than 5 meters. That won’t be good enough for a photo finish in a foot race, but it’s an excellent range to monitor marathon runners.

Certain passive vehicle tracking devices, such as the LandAirSea GPS Tracking Key, take exact position readings every second, which is all the more impressive. The documentation can be correct to about 95 to 99 percent, depending on weather conditions and GPS tracking placement.

Real-time GPS tracking systems will give the user “live” position updates, so the distance the marathon runner has covered can be monitored as it happens, under normal weather conditions. LandAirSea’s equivalent offering in the real-time GPS tracking category is the Victoria GPS Tracking System.

Marathon Runners Have Unique GPS Tracking Requirements

Runners may require GPS tracking devices of special design, since their needs are different from those of vehicle tracking.

Vehicle tracking devices are required to cover great geographic distances and high rates of speed. Many of these GPS tracking systems cannot be set to record location any more frequently than a few seconds.

Comparatively, runners require a lot of data in a relatively compact space and time frame. The GPS tracking device must be sensitive enough to record short movements and it must be extremely small and lightweight so as not to be cumbersome to the athlete.

The consumer would be wise to shop for a GPS tracking device to best suit these needs. Manufacturers have introduced GPS tracking systems especially designed for athletes in small, wearable units like arm bands or watches or anklets.

What Audience, Athletes Learn From GPS Tracking

A runner outfitted with a real-time GPS tracking device is doing so for the benefit of those on the sidelines or watching from home. Officials and fans will be able to follow the athlete’s progress on the route “live.”

The other GPS tracking option is a passive vehicle tracking device, or a data “logger.” Those who benefit the most from this system are the competitors themselves. Runners use GPS tracking while training, to record and improve performance. Sometimes the athlete uses the GPS tracking data to compare with a chief competitor or workout companion; or that information can be analyzed with the intent to improve their own record. Runners can practice more rigorously, checking their speed during certain sections of the route.

Some upgrades in GPS tracking devices include the ability to measure heart rate and the amount of calories burned during the workout.

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Tags: GPS Tracking, Marathon Runners

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 1:35 pm and is filed under All Articles, GPS Tracking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.