A low-cost way to elevate every race: real-time mile splits, backup timing for RFID finish results, live participant tracking, and unlimited race photos — all using phones and tablets races already have.
MOORESTOWN, N.J. — August 4, 2026 — RunSignup, the leading all-in-one technology platform for endurance and fundraising events, today announced a photo-based timing solution that puts big-race technology within reach of every race budget. Using phones or tablets already on hand, any race can now deliver the real-time data and finish line coverage once reserved for the largest, best-funded events in the country. Photos captured at the finish line or anywhere on course now deliver two things at once: a shareable image for the participant, and a timestamped, bib-tagged data point that feeds directly into results and participant tracking.
That combination opens up a new world of race day data. Races can now offer mile-by-mile progress updates or designated checkpoints, plus a backup and verification layer for RFID-scored finish line results — all without buying or renting additional timing hardware. It’s a low-cost way for any race to add extra engagement along the course and a natural fit for small races and remote trail and ultra events working with limited budgets.
“There’s a nice truth in this: the timing device is already in their pocket,” said Bob Bickel, Founder and CEO of RunSignup. “What was previously only available at the largest events, like the New York City Marathon, can now be available at every race. A local 5K or a remote ultra can offer mile splits, live tracking, and live photos using the phones their team is already carrying. This is truly going to help organizers provide an elevated race experience.”
The technology runs on RunSignup’s free RaceDay Mobile app, which captures photos at designated points on the course. Photos upload automatically and are tagged for bib numbers, then stream into RaceDay Scoring as timing reads roughly every 30 seconds. From there, the data flows straight to participant results pages, tracking notifications, and RaceJoy’s live participant tracking. Chip reads always take priority over photo reads when both exist. Photo-based timing complements RFID precision rather than replacing it, adding a layer of data that was previously too costly for most races to achieve.
“This is a seminal moment for race timing,” said James Harris, Chief Technology Officer at RunSignup. “It opens up timing possibilities across the entire course, not just the finish line, generating far more data for races to use — more progress alerts through text messages, more live tracking through systems like RaceJoy. And it still does what timers have always used photos for: confirming a finish when a chip doesn’t read, only now that process is automatic.”
More Data Points, More Live Tracking
Each photo-based timing point can feed directly into participant tracking options available with RunSignup. Races can deliver progress updates through text message alerts or in-app notifications in RaceJoy, RunSignup’s participant tracking app. Spectators tracking participants in RaceJoy watch them in a map view as they cross each photo-based point on the course. The more photo-based timing points a race deploys, the more tracking participants and spectators receive — turning a handful of phones into a course-wide tracking network.
Unlimited Photos, Delivered in Near Real Time
The solution is built on RunSignup’s RaceDay Photos platform, which gives races unlimited photo uploads at no cost. Every photo can also carry a chosen sponsor’s logo or watermark, creating a new sponsorship asset at each checkpoint. The RaceDay Mobile app puts the entire process on autopilot: photos are captured with automated triggers, uploaded with their timestamps, tagged by bib, and delivered to participant results pages within moments, without anyone touching a computer. That near real-time delivery gives spectators more than pace and progress. They visually see what the participant is experiencing at each point on the course, as it happens.
The RaceDay Photos timing stream is available now in Beta for all RaceDay Scoring certified timers. RaceJoy’s tracking is available through RaceJoy Certified Timers.
About RunSignup
RunSignup, an employee-owned company, is the leading event solution delivering the art of technology to endurance events and nonprofits. More than 39,000 events use our free and open platform to register over 12 million annual participants, raise more than $3 billion and grow their events. Our expertly crafted, open and all-in-one solution powers event revenue generation and supporter engagement through flexible registration, free event websites, free email marketing, integrated fundraising, and a suite of RaceDay Real-Time products. RunSignup’s aggressive investment in AI technology ensures customers benefit from continuous innovation and industry-leading features at fair prices. No subscriptions, no plans, no monthly fees.
To find out why customers like the Richmond Marathon, American Cancer Society, and RaceDay Events use RunSignup, visit www.runsignup.com.