RaceJoy raises the bar once again for RaceDay technology with its new Predictive Pace feature! This advancement expands real-time participant tracking on the course map to everyone.
In the past, only participants who enabled RaceJoy’s GPS phone tracking appeared in the map view. Now, select events can offer Predictive Pace to display projected locations for all participants, regardless of GPS usage. As a result, RaceJoy delivers a more consistent tracking experience across the app. This opens the door to broader adoption and engagement for both spectators and race organizers.
By combining RFID timing data with predictive pace inputs and advanced algorithms, RaceJoy estimates each participant’s location on the course. Consequently, spectators and race organizers can follow everyone in real time—without requiring individual phone tracking.
This new feature adds on to RaceJoy’s existing GPS continuous map tracking, progress updates based on either GPS or RFID data, and cheer sending.
What Is RaceJoy’s Predictive Pace?
Predictive Pace uses a combination of RFID timing data, user-predicted pace, industry performance metrics, and intelligent algorithms to project a participant’s position on the course.
This means:
- Participants can be tracked in the app (without opting for its GPS tracking)
- Spectators can track all participants in the course map view in RaceJoy
- Race operations staff gain a real-time dashboard view of estimated participant locations
RaceJoy’s GPS tracking delivers a more accurate real-time position of a participant’s location, but the new Predictive Pace feature simplifies the process for participants and their spectators. Race participants simply need to do the race and do not need to set up tracking within the App. This broadens the number of people who can be tracked in the app on the actual course map.
How It Works
RaceJoy’s Predictive Pace calculations rely on the following:
- Real-time timing data streamed from RaceDay Scoring (timers can use any scoring platform, not just RaceDay Scoring)
- User-provided predicted pace entered in RaceJoy or during event registration
- Performance modeling based on split data
- Course layout and conditions
- Industry performance benchmarks
Placing more timing equipment on the course increases the precision of the projections. To maintain accurate predictions, RaceJoy sets minimum split point requirements:
- Marathons: Start, finish, and three intermediate splits
- Half Marathons: Start, finish, and two intermediate splits
RaceJoy continuously updates participant positions on the course map using this data. As a result, users see smooth, real-time-like movement—even when GPS tracking isn’t active.
Why It Matters
✔️ Consistent Map View for Spectators
Spectators simply open RaceJoy and enjoy a unified tracking experience for all participants—no more guessing who opted in or who’s visible on the map.
✔️ Expanded Race Participation
Not all participants like to carry their phone or use apps during the race. RaceJoy’s Predictive Pace allows more participants to be tracked on race day, improving engagement with participants and spectators.
✔️ Enhanced Race Operations
For event staff, the RaceJoy monitoring dashboard now offers an at-a-glance view of the entire field of participants, helping with planning, resource deployment, and participant support.
Predictive Pace at Missoula Marathon
The first live deployment of Predictive Pace took place at the 2025 Missoula Marathon, where Matthew Smeltzer, a seasoned RaceJoy Certified Timer, worked with us to utilize the feature for the first time. The event served as a model for how Predictive Pace can elevate mid-size events with advanced tracking, once reserved only for the largest and most heavily resourced races. Matthew gave us valuable feedback on ways we can continue to improve on this latest RaceJoy advancement and we will be releasing the next installment of predictive pace very soon. More information about Matthew and Competitive Timing can be found here.
Exclusive to Advanced RaceJoy Certified Timers
Predictive Pace is available only through RaceJoy Certified Timers who have demonstrated a high technical proficiency and a history of successful RaceJoy deployments. The feature requires proper infrastructure and adherence to RaceJoy’s best practices and timers offering premium split experiences for their events.
A Leap Forward for Mid-Size Events
RaceJoy co-founder and lead developer James Harris shared:
“Historically, predictive tracking was reserved for only the largest events with substantial budgets. Now, thanks to RaceJoy’s Predictive Pace, RaceJoy Certified Timers can offer this advanced technology at an affordable price—making innovation once exclusive to major events accessible to mid-size races without the need for complex setup or costly infrastructure.”
Next Steps for RaceJoy Certified Timers
If you are a seasoned RaceJoy Certified Timer and wish to offer Predictive Pace at an upcoming event, please reach out to racejoy@runsignup.com.
