Marathon Runners Around the World Rely on RFID

If you've ever cheered on a friend running a marathon, you may have hung out on the crowded sidelines but have never seen or heard anything about your friend. With RFID, you're sure to know how your friend is progressing through the race as well as the runner's precise score.

In dozens of marathons around the world - from the Boston and New York marathons to those in Mumbai and Berlin - runners attach tiny RFID tags to their shoelaces. Those tags are read as participants move throughout the course.

When the runner passes particular milestones, the system sends the runner's friends an e-mail or SMS to update on the progress.

RFID-supported races are not just more fun for spectators, they're better for racers, too. The tags help reduce starting-line wait times, time racers precisely and deter people from cheating by shortening the course.