Posted: October 28, 2004

Athletics: MyMarathonDVD Set to Record Marine Corps Marathon Memories

State-of-the-Art Technology Offers Personalized Video Snapshot of Race

The 26.2-mile marathon distance is the runner's Mt. Everest. Anyone who's ever pushed his or her body beyond its natural limits to stumble across the finish line of a marathon wishes there was more than just a single snapshot of the experience. But it's difficult if not impossible for the relative or friend of any participant to capture the perfect memento. There are some daunting factors: the length of the marathon, crowded sidelines and the pressure to make good on one chance for the perfect photo.

Problem solved by MyMarathonDVD - which will be used at the 29th Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on Sunday, Oct. 31.

This new state-of-the-art sports technology is the brainchild of Jim Barahal, a Waikiki Beach doctor who has been president of the Honolulu Marathon since 1987. A former marathoner, he decided last year it was high time to find a way to give marathoners a start-to-finish video chronicle of their experience.

So Barahal got together with some creative video and software specialists in Honolulu and came up with a way to do it.

MyMarathonDVD works by synchronizing timing data from the microchip laced in each runner's shoe with high resolution digital video recorded by cameras mounted on towering tripods along the course.

At the selected checkpoints, every passing runner will be shot from more than one angle:

* Starting Line (4 cameras) 
* 10 Kilometers (2 cameras) 
* Half-Marathon (2 cameras) 
* 20 Miles (2 cameras) 
* Finish Line (4 cameras)

A copyrighted software program makes it possible to produce personalized race DVDs with menus, Dolby stereo music, professional narration and the sounds of spectators. Each runner's video clips at the various checkpoints will include timing splits that flash across the bottom of the screen.

The personalized clips will be part of the overall storyline of MyMarathonDVD. In other words, they will be shown within the context of the event with the leaders' progress also featured.

The DVD, which costs $49.95 and ships in 4-6 weeks, has a features menu just like a movie DVD. The menu allows the user to play, pause, repeat or jump to any selected location on the course. The runner can watch the entire 30-minute program or just personal video clips.

MyMarathonDVD also features include a personal digital finisher certificate displaying official results and animated course map.

The technology was first used at the Ironman World Triathlon Championship in Hawaii in October 2003. It was then set up for the Honolulu Marathon in December. MyMarathonDVD's first U.S. mainland application was at the City of Los Angeles Marathon on March 7 and then it was installed for the Boston Marathon on April 19. Next stop, the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on Oct. 31.

Find more information at: www.MyMarathonDVD.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.