I have a stalker.

Don’t worry, it’s just my friend Kelly!

Kelly sent this to me last night and it put a huge smile on my face. The tropical weather predicted for Marathon Monday should bring out record numbers of race supporters and cheer squads, but those who cannot attend are able to stalk track runners online or through texts sent automatically when the poor souls cross the 10k, half-marathon, 30k, and finish mats. It’s quite impressive, though texts are usually delayed due to the large numbers of stalkers excited fans receiving updates, and it’s so motivating to runners knowing their friends and family are following and rooting from them.

Almost all marathons and half-marathons have athlete tracking available. Next time a friend or coworker tells you they’re running, click over to the race site and let them know you’ll be thinking of them that day! It’s a simple way to show support and interest, and it goes a long way (pun intended).

Oh, and be sure to tell them how to run a marathon; they’ll really appreciate the advice 🙂