Submitted by Mike Grenville on Thu, 01 Apr 2004 18:25

Runners in the 2004 Flora London Marathon will be able to keep their friends and family updated with their progress with a free automated text message service.

Each runner is given a small timing chip, which attaches to his or her shoelaces. As the runners pass over electronic detectors, which are set at every 10km mark and halfway as well as the finish, the chip records their time for that stage and their overall time for the race.

Orange will send these times as text messages, free of charge, to up to three nominated friends or family members on any network, so that they can keep track of their runner's progress.

This is the first time a text-timing service has been used in the UK and it's part of Orange becoming official Communications Partner to the 2004 Flora London Marathon.

This year's marathon takes place on 18th April

Registered runners can sign up here: www.orange.co.uk/marathon

www.london-marathon.co.uk