Tata Consultancy Services, premier partner of New York Road Runners and title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon, has joined up with the iconic event’s foundation partners Airbnb, ASICS, and United Airlines to ‘bring unique and immersive activities to the running community’.
New York Road Runners (NYRR) and its partners have announced a variety of official activations and events during the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. The event organiser points out that these activations will provide runners and fans an immersive race experience and will be featured in the week leading up to the TCS New York City Marathon and throughout the 26.2-mile course on race day – Sunday 6 November.
“Our TCS New York City Marathon partners are an integral part of the race week and race day experience,” said Sarah Cummins, Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at New York Road Runners. “Together with our partners, the TCS New York City Marathon continues to be a trailblazer in creating new technology applications and event activations for runners, spectators and viewers, and we’re excited to bring millions of people together on such an inspirational day.”
Activation highlights surrounding race week are included below, and a full list of this year’s TCS New York City Marathon partners is available at tcsnycmarathon.org/about-the-race/partners.
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services, one of the world’s leading IT services and consulting firms, is the Premier Partner of NYRR, the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon, and Official Youth and Community Services Partner of NYRR.
During the race, NYRR and TCS will outfit several participants – including professional runners and wheelchair athletes – with wearable technology that will collect biometric data to track their performance in real time. That data will be featured in the race day broadcast and will compare results to show the effect of the race on the athletes’ performances, with data points including heart rate, breathing rate, cadence, and pace, as well as the relative conditions of the course and the environment; including elevation, grade, and weather.
TCS will also be offering large-scale augmented reality of the race course featuring a custom table outfitted with tablets allowing runners and fans to experience course elevation changes, mile markers, fluid stations, points of interest, and ‘TCS Runfographics’.
Runners and fans can also check out the TCS New York City Marathon in full virtual reality. An immersive VR experience, powered by Tata Consultancy Services, will be available, and is supported by mobile-enabled headsets and surround-sound headphones.
The 2016 TCS New York City Marathon Mobile App Powered by Tata Consultancy Services, available now, features: live on-map tracking of up to 20 runners on race day; the ability to locate and unlock Smile Markers, which are map-pin-shaped markers stationed throughout the city that highlight noteworthy facts and elements of the TCS New York City Marathon; an interactive expo map; Race Predictor; a 2017 entry sweepstakes; and a number of other features. Developed by Tata Consultancy Services, the app is available for download free of charge at the iTunes Store and Google Play.
TCS will again sponsor the TCS goIT Marathon App Contest and Awards Presentation, taking place at the TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion on Friday 4 November at 14:00 ET. Four goIT finalists from city schools will present the fitness app they have created to a panel of three judges: Yogesh Anand, Global Head of Strategic Relationships, TCS; Michael Capiraso, NYRR President and CEO, and Tish Hamilton, Executive Editor of Runner’s World Magazine.
Airbnb
Airbnb is a foundation partner of NYRR and the official community and hospitality partner. Airbnb supports NYRR’s year-round events and initiatives.
The Airbnb Run Hub will return to the TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion in 2016 offering runners and visitors free lockers to use during final pre-race shakeout runs. Airbnb will also be offering local hospitality and the opportunity to connect with other runners and visitors in the Run Hub space. The Airbnb Run Hub will be open during regular 2016 TCS New York City Marathon Pavilion operating hours.
ASICS
ASICS is an NYRR Foundation Partner and the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon.
In 2016, ASICS is encouraging athletes of all levels to make a positive impact through running by adding an ‘Extra Mile’” to their workout. Through to 7 November, ASICS will donate a pair of running shoes to Girls on the Run, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting self-confidence and healthy lifestyles for young girls, for every US$100 spent on ASICS products within select New York run specialty stores and at participating retail locations nationwide.
The Extra Mile campaign will also be part of the official 2016 TCS New York City Marathon campaign, ‘Get Your New York On’, through Smile Markers. To commemorate ASICS’ Extra Mile campaign, a customized 27th Extra Mile Smile Marker will be located at the ASICS store in the Meatpacking District (420 W. 14th Street).
The Extra Mile campaign celebration will continue on Marathon Monday, with a ceremonial one-mile run starting at the race finish line in Central Park at West 67th Street. Twenty-five runners who embody the spirit of the campaign, including ASICS elite athlete, first-time marathoner and Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen and Girls on the Run members will be among the participants.
The TCS New York City Marathon Store Presented by ASICS will again be available for runners and visitors at the TCS New York City Marathon Health and Wellness Expo. This year ASICS will offer special edition footwear, apparel, and accessories.
United Airlines
United Airlines is an NYRR Foundation Partner, and year-round supporter of NYRR programs and events. United Airlines has been a partner of NYRR for more than 20 years and is the official airline of the TCS New York City Marathon.
At the TCS New York City Marathon Health and Wellness Expo, United Airlines will showcase the United Polaris business class experience and ‘highlight the power of sleep in athletic performance in partnership with Meb Keflezighi’. Visitors can experience United Polaris in virtual reality and enter for a chance to win a trip on United Polaris to a global dream run destination with curated runner’s gear.
Meb will be on hand throughout the week to discuss the importance of sleep in athletic performance. United Airlines also returns as the presenting sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony Presented by United Airlines on Friday 4 November.
New 2016 TCS New York City Marathon partners
New York Road Runners has also welcomed four new partners to the TCS New York City Marathon in 2016. According to the event organising team, ‘Each offers unique, compelling platforms for this year’s race participants’.
- Fitbit
- Michelob ULTRA
- Chiquita Banana
- Headspace
