TCS NYC Marathon app usage hits 53 mn

The app generated a 700% increase in race day usage, from 7.5 million data points accessed in 2014 to 53 million in 2015

TCS New York City Marathon, the world's largest marathon, with 49,617 finishers, witnessed more than 272,000 downloads of the official race app, powered by Tata Consultancy Services, but more significantly, the app generated a 700 per cent increase in race day usage, from 7.5 million data points accessed in 2014 to 53 million in 2015.

India's largest IT services provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the title sponsor of New York City Marathon since 2014. The race is organised by New York Road Runners Club.

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon app had several new and enhanced features such as a pre-event personalised race time predictor, interactive Expo map and live leader boards of pro athletes, to the most popular feature of tracking up to 10 runners on the race course and being able to plan where to see or meet runners, complete with MTA route information.

TCS and NYRR made great strides toward its collective goal of making the TCS New York City Marathon the most technically advanced and socially engaged marathon in the world. Beyond the official app, race week activities (from Monday, October 26 to Monday, November 2) generated more than 588 million impressions on Twitter and Instagram related to the #tcsnycmarathon hashtag - 342 million on race day alone - while Facebook drove almost 26 million impressions. Moreover, the #TCSNYCMarathon Journey Video, built for marathoners, fans and volunteers to create recaps of marathon experience, saw more than 5,000 people sign up to create videos, with nearly 1,500 videos currently made.

"TCS has diligently worked with New York Road Runners over the past two years to re-imagine and enhance the experience of the TCS New York City Marathon for runners, fans and supporters," said N Chandrasekharan, CEO and MD, TCS. "Our goal is to encourage more people to pursue such healthy lifestyles, in New York City and beyond. It was truly an honor to run in the race for the second straight year with runners from around the world, and witness the passion and joy on so many people's faces."

TCS Runfographics was another new, socially driven campaign surrounding this year's race, designed to drive buzz and interest in running beyond just athletes or core enthusiasts. Fun images and animations brought to life the global nature of the race and New York City's iconic characteristics - from the fastest countries, US states or zodiac signs over the past 40 years, to comparisons of distances covered in other sports and race calories burned relative to the number of NYC pizza slices one could eat.

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon featured 49,617 finishers, representing all US states and 125 countries. It also had the highest ever level of female participants at 20,703.