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HOPKINTON, Mass. – Outside Interactive, a developer of forward motion video technology for indoor exercising, today announced it is partnering with Atlanta Track Club to create a virtual race-day experience of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, enabling future runners to relive the excitement of the day, train on the famous course virtually prior to race day, no matter where they are in the world, at their own pace on any treadmill and with an iPad® or Android® tablet.
Exclusive footage will be shot the day of this year’s race in Atlanta, Georgia on July 4th, immediately prior to the live event. Footage is shot from a runner’s perspective to produce a high-definition video that allows viewers to interactively run the virtual race course with their iPad® or Android® tablet, with cheering spectators lining the roads, when inclement weather, travel, or deployment prevent being on the course itself.
“The AJC Peachtree Road Race is the largest race in the country and we’re excited at the chance to partner with Atlanta Track Club to bring their course to the world,” said Gary McNamee, President and Founder of Outside Interactive. ”With 60,000 participants and thousands of spectators lining the course, we hope to capture all the electricity and excitement of race day. For future races, runners who can’t participate in the live event on race day will have an alternative to be engaged and entertained when running on their treadmill the other 364 days of the year.”
“This is an exciting new technology for our sport,” stated Rich Kenah, Executive Director of Atlanta Track Club. “Over the years, millions of runners have participated in the AJC Peachtree Road Race. Now our participants can prepare for the ups and downs of the course, including Cardiac Hill, whether they have access to Atlanta’s hills or train hundreds of miles away.”
Through the use of its state-of-the-art cameras, filming, and editing techniques, the HD virtual-course videos, shot from the runner’s point of view, are made interactive to the runner’s pace through its use with Outside Interactive’s free downloadable app called “Virtual Runner,” available for Windows®, iPad® and Android® platforms.
The iPad and Android apps allow for manual adjustment of the video speed to match the runner’s pace by minutes per mile or kilometer. Future versions of Virtual Runner will also be compatible with select treadmill brands, allowing for control of video speed as well as incline adjustment to simulate hills on the course.
A brief demonstration can be found here http://outsideinteractive.com/wearable-technology/ Samples of various race courses, popular running routes and scenic destinations can be found here http://outsideinteractive.com/previews/
About: Outside Interactive
Outside Interactive is a Hopkinton, MA developer of Virtual Runner, a revolutionary patent-pending forward motion technology solution featuring famous race courses, popular running routes and scenic destinations, all shot in HD from a runner’s point of view. Founded in 2011 by Gary McNamee, a lifelong Boston resident, avid runner and serial entrepreneur, Gary developed Virtual Runner after becoming bored on the treadmill and frustrated with not being able to train properly in New England’s unpredictable and often harsh weather. For more information, visit http://www.outsideinteractive.com/
About: Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. With more than 24,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Publix Georgia Marathon, Atlanta 10 Miler and Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
About: The AJC Peachtree Road Race
The AJC Peachtree Road Race is a 10K event that takes place every Fourth of July in Atlanta, Georgia. The first Peachtree was held in 1970 and featured 110 finishers. The AJC Peachtree Road Race is now the largest 10K running event in the world with 60,000 participants. The AJC Peachtree Road Race is perhaps most famous for the coveted AJC Peachtree Road Race T-shirt, which is handed out to all the event finishers. For more information on the AJC Peachtree Road Race visit peachtreeroadrace.org or AJC.com/peachtree.