New York, October 12, 2020 – Virtual TCS New York City Marathon participants and fans of the race will have access to a variety of exclusive content on platforms that will enhance the race and spectator experience for this year’s event, including an NYRR Racing app, TCS New York City Marathon App Powered by Tata Consultancy Services, and Virtual TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance. These new digital product features will take marathon participants through the entire runner journey to capture the excitement of running on the streets of New York – from the audio cues of the start-line cannon in Staten Island to spectator cheers throughout the course and an augmented reality virtual medal photo opportunity after completing their 26.2 miles.

The Virtual TCS New York City Marathon will kick off for the third consecutive year when the race period begins on October 17 and will conclude on November 1. It is part of New York Road Runners’ Volvo Virtual Racing Powered by Strava, which allows runners anywhere in the world to run a race at their convenience and the location of their choice during a specified period of time.

“While the TCS New York City Marathon may look different this year, through audio cues, live leaderboards, real-time runner tracking, and augmented reality, New York Road Runners and TCS are bringing the five-borough race experience to the runners wherever they may be participating around the world,” said Christine Burke, NYRR senior vice president of strategic partnerships and runner products.

Official Virtual TCS New York City Marathon App Powered by Tata Consultancy Services
The race’s title and technology sponsor, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is launching an app with exclusive features for runners and spectators to prepare for and celebrate the race. The official Virtual TCS New York City Marathon app will allow runners to listen to special race-day sound effects, access customizable selfie frames, and celebrate their finish with the Re-Play This Run and augmented reality medal photo features. Friends and family can also use the app to create custom cards to cheer on runners during the race. Each of these features has been specifically designed to be shareable on social media to help spread the excitement for the world’s premier race. The app will be available for download in Apple and Google Play Stores.

“Each year, we strive to make the TCS New York City Marathon the most technologically advanced and socially engaged race in the world,” said Surya Kant, Chairman - North America, TCS. “This year’s virtual format provides an opportunity to showcase how technology, like our race apps, can create immersive and sharable experiences for runners and spectators alike.” 

NYRR Racing app
The NYRR Racing app is a new premium offering that will bring the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon racing experience to life by displaying where runners and their fellow virtual racers are in real time and where they would stack up on the actual New York City Marathon course. Through this real-time runner tracking, friends and family will be able to track their runner’s progress. This app is available to Virtual Marathon participants in the paid tiers and will also include audio cues and sounds of New York City along the course, push notifications as progress is made, and Strava integration for run uploads. The NYRR Racing app will continue beyond the Virtual Marathon and be made available for all future NYRR virtual races.

Virtual TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance
Runners and spectators will have the chance to prepare for their race and engage with the NYRR brand and its partners through the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance, which will be open from October 26 to November 2. The virtual expo will be housed through EventHub at https://expo.tcsnycmarathon.org and will be a marketplace and content hub for NYRR, sponsors, partners , agency alliances and other exhibitors to connect with runners and fans globally. Virtual booths featuring products, partners and marathon-related content will be accessible to all for free. Programming highlights on the virtual main stage throughout the week include sessions on how to enhance your Virtual Marathon experience, Virtual Marathon strategy sessions, and a live recording of NYRR’s Habitual Routine podcast with Shalane Flanagan and Meb Keflezighi.

NYRR Volvo Virtual Racing launched in beta together with Strava at the start of 2018. Since its inception, there have now been more than 190,000 total finishers from nearly 170 different countries. The largest virtual race thus far was the 2020 NYRR Virtual Resolution Run 5K with 16,246 finishers. Over the first two years of the Virtual Marathons, thousands of finishers took part from 48 different states and 73 different countries. Proceeds from the virtual races support NYRR’s mission to help and inspire people through running, and benefit NYRR’s youth and community programs.

The 2020 TCS New York City Marathon in-person race, set for November 1, was canceled due to coronavirus-related health and safety concerns for runners, spectators, volunteers, staff, and the many partners and communities that support the event. The virtual edition of the race is expected to have around 25,000 registrants.

About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners.  To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.