#ThisRun - Virtually Connecting Runners

This has been a stressful year, and we all need to find ways to relieve the pressure. For me it’s running.

That’s why I’m especially excited about the launch of #ThisRun, a new worldwide community for runners, built on our long-standing commitment to global marathon and running partnership platforms.

The new community brings runners together for better health and empowers them with technology innovation. Through inspirational stories, tools and tips, #ThisRun captures the power of sport to unite people, and helps us grow and push our limits. It also gives runners a way to connect, share experiences and challenge each other, which has been especially important this year with so many of us working and training from home.

Over the last 10 years Tata Consultancy Services has arguably been the leading sponsor of marathons around the world. This year, new technology innovations introduced by TCS have helped to reimagine many of the world’s top marathons as virtual events, and enabled runners across the world to connect and participate. These include the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS Amsterdam Marathon, the London, Chicago and Boston marathons, as well as the world’s largest cross-country race, the TCS Liding?loppet in Sweden.

To enhance the experience and recreate real life running events, TCS has introduced several novel features in our race apps, such as smart medals, soundtracks to give runners the experience of running through cheering crowds, unique AR and VR elements, and virtual maps to show runners where they are on a city course – regardless of their location elsewhere in the world. I can run the same course as the pros without leaving home! Perfect motivation for training during a lockdown. You can also get AI-powered real-time digital coaching and store your medals and achievements in a digital portfolio, which makes participation in these events more memorable and motivates us runners to push our limits.

Join me and runners from around the globe, as we continue to push our physical limits to achieve our running goals, and pay tribute to the innovative role TCS technology plays in enhancing the marathon experience.