How do I track someone in a marathon?

Download the race’s official app and search for your runner by name or bib number to get chip times at each timing mat. For their live position between mats, ask them to share a live GPS link from their phone before the start.

Which app can track marathon runners?

The race’s official app tracks every registered runner through timing mats. Live GPS apps track one runner from their own phone: CheerMyRun works at any race, while Strava Beacon and Garmin LiveTrack share location from Strava or a Garmin device.

Can I track a runner without downloading an app?

Yes. Many races also offer a tracking page on their website. And with a live link like the one CheerMyRun creates, you only need what the runner shares: it opens in any browser, with no app or account, and shows them live on a map.

Is CheerMyRun the official tracker of the NYC Marathon?

No. It’s independent and isn’t the official app or tracker of any race. It works alongside the official app: chip times come from the race, and the live link shows the runner’s position in between.

How to Track a Marathon Runner Live

Q: Why is the marathon tracker delayed?

Official trackers only update when the runner crosses a timing mat, often every 5K. Between mats the app estimates position from the last split, so a runner who slows down or stops will appear further ahead than they really are.

How to track a runner live during a marathon (step by step)

Short answer

To track a marathon runner live, use two things: the race’s official app, which shows chip times each time the runner crosses a timing mat, and a live GPS link from the runner’s phone, which shows where they are between mats. Set both up the night before, with the runner’s bib number and the link ready.

By the CheerMyRun team

Step 1: Get the race’s official app and the bib number

Almost every big marathon has an official app or tracking page. For the New York City Marathon, that’s the NYRR app. Download it a day or two early, sign in if it asks, and add your runner by name or bib number.

Ask your runner for their bib number as soon as they pick up their packet. Searching by name works, but common names return a long list, and you don’t want to be scrolling on a crowded sidewalk.

Step 2: Understand timing mats (and why the dot jumps)

Official trackers read the chip on the runner’s bib when they cross a timing mat. Big marathons often place mats every 5K, which is a little over three miles. Between mats, the app estimates position from the last split.

That’s why the runner can look stuck, then jump ahead. If they slow down or stop at an aid station, the estimate keeps moving while the runner doesn’t, and you can miss them at your spot.

Step 3: Add a live GPS link for the gaps

A live GPS link uses the runner’s own phone, so you see where they are right now instead of where they were at the last mat. Strava Beacon and Garmin LiveTrack can share a location link if your runner already uses them.

CheerMyRun is built for race day. The runner starts the race in the app and shares one link. You open it in any browser, with no app or account, and see them live on a map with distance and pace.

Runner: start the race in the app before the gun goes off.
Runner: send the link to the family group chat.
You: open the link in your browser and keep the tab handy.
You: record a short voice cheer; it plays in their headphones.

Step 4: Plan your spots with both tools

Use the official app’s pace and the course map to pick two or three spots, then use the live link to time your walk. When the runner is about a mile out, get to the curb and start looking for their outfit.

Tell the runner ahead of time which side of the road you’ll be on. In New York, crowds can be several people deep, and a runner scanning the wrong side will run right past you.

Following from another state or country

Both the official app and a live link work from anywhere. Just check the time difference: London is usually five hours ahead of New York, so a morning start at the London Marathon means a very early alarm on the East Coast.

From afar, the live link matters more, because you can’t see the course. Pair it with the race’s broadcast or livestream if there is one, and send a voice cheer before the late miles, when it helps most.