Event Information

Today’s participants and spectators expect some form of tracking at events. RaceJoy offers an advanced technology that is affordable and accessible for races of all sizes, allowing you to deliver a professional, connected experience that meets today’s expectations. Join us for this webinar and:

• Discover how RaceJoy delivers advanced real-time participant tracking using GPS continuous tracking and chip timing based tracking.
• Learn how predictive pace and map positioning lets spectators see every participant on the course—even those not carrying phones—by combining official split data with intelligent algorithms
• See how progress alerts keep participants and spectators informed of performance at every timing point and milestone
• Learn how the Send-a-Cheer feature creates meaningful spectator engagement, allowing friends and family to send personalized audio messages that boost participant morale throughout the course

This session will show you how to leverage RaceJoy to differentiate your race, increase participant satisfaction, and create an unforgettable race day experience that keeps runners coming back year after year.

RaceJoy is exclusively available through RaceJoy Certified Timers.

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Summary of Webinar

Overview

RaceJoy is a native app (not browser-based) that provides GPS phone tracking, chip-based timing integration, off-course alerts, SOS safety tools, and spectator engagement features. In 2025, it delivered 5.5 million progress alerts and 850,000 cheers. As of early May 2026, it had already surpassed 2 million alerts and 300,000 cheers — used across thousands of events of all sizes in North America. RaceJoy is accessed through certified timer partners, of which there are now over 450 across North America.

Important note: While RunSignup does not charge an additional platform fee for RaceJoy, timers invest significant time setting up maps, monitoring events, and managing data. Timers set their own pricing for RaceJoy services. Always work with your timer to understand what is included and what it costs.

The Tracking Spectrum

RaceJoy offers two primary levels of tracking, and timers can offer one or both depending on the event.

GPS Phone Tracking (Entry Level) Participants download the app, link their registration, and their phone becomes a live tracking device. No extra timing equipment required from the timer. Features include live position on an interactive course map, progress alerts every mile, and audio off-course alerts that work even in airplane mode with no cell connectivity. The course map is downloaded to the phone, so participants always know where they are on course regardless of signal.

Chip-Based Timing Integration (Next Level) Timers stream data from their timing equipment through RaceDay Scoring to RaceJoy. Timers do not need to score in RaceDay Scoring to do this — it is used purely as a data pipeline. Even a single start/finish timing point adds meaningful value: spectators get official split alerts and estimated finish times. With two or more timing points, predictive pace mapping can be enabled, showing every participant on the live map — including those not carrying a phone — using timing data and pace algorithms.

In low-connectivity environments: The participant experience is unaffected for GPS tracking — everything runs offline on the phone. For timing integration, cell coverage or Starlink at key checkpoints is needed to push timing data to the cloud in real time. Without it, dots hold at the last known timing point until connectivity returns.

For Participants

Setup is simple: download the app, find the race, and the registration syncs automatically. Key features include live course map navigation, customizable audio settings (alerts, cheers, or silent), progress alerts at each mile or timing point, near-me alerts for tracking competitors, real-time split and results data all in one place, and a one-tap SOS button that can be used by the runner or to report a situation involving another participant. All of this works offline — the phone does not need cell service to navigate, receive off-course alerts, or trigger an SOS.

For Spectators

Spectators follow participants on a live interactive map with real-time performance context — pace, splits, whether someone is ahead of or behind their expected time. They can send audio cheers (pre-recorded or custom typed messages delivered within seconds) and tailor their messages based on what they are seeing. The Meetup feature helps spectators triangulate their own location relative to the participant to plan where to cheer. Up to 50 participants can be tracked simultaneously.

For Race Organizers and Timers

The live monitoring console provides a full operational view of the event — lead runners, tail runners, projected finish times, timing data verification, and a count of participants at each checkpoint. Key tools include:

• Off-course alerts in the monitoring dashboard — a cluster of alerts at one location signals a signage or volunteer issue that needs immediate attention
• SOS alerts with an optional email distribution list so you are notified even when not looking at the screen; SOS is bidirectional, allowing you to send a text-to-speech message back to the participant
• Broadcast communications — send an audio message to everyone on a specific course, a filtered group (e.g., everyone past mile 10), or an individual participant; particularly useful for weather emergencies or course changes
• Participant replay — useful for verifying course completion when a bib was lost or damaged
• Progress board / leaderboard that refreshes live based on timing data

For relay events, RaceJoy combines GPS phone data and timing data into a single team tracking view. Active leg runners are shown live on the map. Teams without a phone on a given leg are tracked via timing points. Self-reporting is also available from the team van.

Sponsor Activation

RaceJoy offers several ways to activate sponsors without disrupting the participant experience — linkable banner ads visible to spectators throughout the race, branded timing point names on the map (e.g., “Lexus Mile 5”), clickable HTML popups at sponsor locations on the map, and sponsor mentions woven into geo-based audio messages. Avoid straight advertising — feedback from participants when messages feel like commercials has been consistently negative.

Getting Started

Find a RaceJoy-certified timer at runsignup.com/timersearch. Ideally, activate RaceJoy at least two weeks before race day so participants have time to set up their phones. On race morning, turn on the RaceJoy button once your start time is entered — nothing goes out to participants until the official start time is recorded, so there is no risk of triggering alerts early.

Key Takeaways

• RaceJoy benefits three groups: participants (tracking, safety, results), spectators (live engagement and cheers), and organizers (operational monitoring and communications)
• GPS-only tracking requires no extra equipment and works fully offline for participants
• Timing integration adds predictive map tracking for all participants, including those without a phone
• The SOS button, off-course alerts, and broadcast messaging are meaningful safety tools — especially for trail, ultra, and overnight events
• Data flows automatically through the RunSignup ecosystem — registration, check-in, bib assignment, and results all sync without extra setup
• RaceJoy is available through certified timer partners; work with your timer on pricing and setup