Follow the Rotterdam Marathon live
Photo: Daniel Agudelo / Unsplash
- CityRotterdam, Netherlands
- When10 and 11 April 2027
- DistancesMarathon, 10 km, City Run 4.2 km
Twice over the Erasmus Bridge, past the Feyenoord stadium and the Kralingse Plas lake, finishing on the Coolsingel. Flat, fast and full of crowds. The course is already in Racespot: pick your distance and your supporters follow you live, wherever they are.
In a race's official app you see the split times at the timing mats, usually every 5 km. Want to see where your runner is right now and when they'll pass you? Then your runner sets up the Rotterdam Marathon in Racespot and shares one link. Watching is free, in the browser.
See how it works on the mapAbout the Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon has been run since 1981 and holds a special place in running history. Three world records were set on this course: by Carlos Lopes in 1985, Belayneh Densamo in 1988 and Tegla Loroupe in 1998.
The start is on the Coolsingel, right in the city centre. After just a few minutes you run over the Erasmus Bridge to the south of Rotterdam, past places like the Feyenoord stadium and Ahoy. Later in the race you cross the Erasmus Bridge again, and the final kilometres take you around the Kralingse Plas lake and past the Cube Houses and the Markthal, back to the finish on the Coolsingel. The course is flat and fast, and tens of thousands of people line the route.
For supporters, the Rotterdam Marathon is a party, but also a puzzle: it's busy, the course is long and they don't want to miss you. With Racespot they see exactly where you are, when you'll pass their spot and which spot they can still make after that. When they record a cheer, you hear it in your earbuds along the way, even when they're on the other side of Rotterdam.
The Rotterdam Marathon course
Start, finish and every kilometre. This exact course is in the app, and your supporters see it on their map too.
The Rotterdam Marathon course runs through Rotterdam. On the map you see the start, the finish and the kilometres. Choose your distance below and fill in your goal. This exact course is in the Racespot app, so your supporters see where you are and when you'll reach their spot.
The map isn't loading right now. Check your connection and refresh the page.
Your plan
Per 5 km at even effort, with what elevation, heat and wind cost (+) or give you (-) there, in seconds. Tap a block for the single kilometres; point at it to see it on the map.
4 ways to follow a runner during the Rotterdam Marathon
You want to know where your runner is, and when to cheer. These are the ways to follow someone during the Rotterdam Marathon, and what they can and can't do.
What the official app can do differs per race. The Amsterdam Marathon app, for example, shows when your runner passes well-known points.
The official app
Free and reliable for the official times. You search for your runner by name or bib number. The times come from the chip in the race bib, so you see your runner at the timing mats; in between, the app works it out.
Good for the official splits and finish time.
Find My or WhatsApp live location
Already on the phone and easy to use. You see a dot on the map, but no course, distance or pace, and not when your runner will reach your spot.
Good for finding each other after the finish.
Garmin LiveTrack or Strava Beacon
Your runner shares a link with their location on the map, the distance and the pace. This needs a Garmin watch or Strava, and every runner shares their own link: you follow several runners separately.
Good for one runner with a sports watch.
Racespot
Your runner sets up the Rotterdam Marathon in the app and shares one link. Supporters see everyone on the course, know when their runner is coming and record a cheer the runner hears along the way.
Good for family and friends who want to be part of it and cheer.
The app to follow the Rotterdam Marathon live
Racespot is a tracking app for runners and their supporters. The runner uses the app on their iPhone; supporters follow for free in their browser, on Android and on a computer too. No account and no download needed to watch.
- Cheer from MumRecorded on the sofa, heard at km 12 of the Rotterdam Marathon
- Jimmy is 300 metres aheadA voice in your earbuds, so you don't miss anyone along the route
- Esri and David are watchingThey follow you live on the map, no app or account needed
This is what your supporters see
An example on this course: three runners, Mum at the side of the road and a cheer along the way. Tap a step to jump to it.
The map isn't loading right now. Check your connection and refresh the page.
Follow the Rotterdam Marathon live
You're running the Rotterdam Marathon and you want family and friends to be there with you, even if they're not along the course in Rotterdam. With Racespot you share one link. Whoever opens it sees you live on the map of the Rotterdam Marathon: where you are, how long you've been running, your pace and when you'll reach their spot.
Read more
Your supporters don't need an app or an account. The link works in any browser, on a phone or computer, Android too. Your location refreshes every 10 seconds.
If they are along the route, they share their spot. On the way you hear a voice in your earbuds: Jimmy is 300 metres ahead. So you don't miss anyone, not even in the crowds.
- The Rotterdam Marathon course in the appPick your distance, the route is already in.
- One link for everyoneIn the group chat, no app or account needed.
- Hear who's thereA voice tells you when you're nearly at a supporter.
- Cheers at your kilometreRecorded at home, heard in Rotterdam.
How to run the Rotterdam Marathon with Racespot
- 1Pick the Rotterdam Marathon in the appThe course and your distance are already in. Add your goal time if you like.
- 2Share your linkIn the group chat. Your supporters pick their spot along the route and record a cheer.
- 3One tap in the start penPhone away. Racespot starts on its own when you run and stops after the finish.
Race day checklist
How to make sure everyone can follow you live during the Rotterdam Marathon.
For you as a runner
- Fully charge your phone, and bring a small power bank for a long distance.
- Share your link in the group chat a few days before.
- Turn on notifications and location for Racespot.
- Bring earbuds to hear the cheers.
- In the start pen, tap I'm in the start pen.
For your supporters
- Open the link on the morning of the race.
- Enter your name, so the runner knows who's watching.
- Record a cheer and pick the kilometre where it gets tough.
- Along the route? Share your spot, so the runner hears you're coming up.
Set up the Rotterdam Marathon in Racespot and send the link to the family group chat now. Then it's ready on race day and nobody has to search for it.
Join the betaQuestions about the Rotterdam Marathon
About following live and cheering with Racespot. For everything about the race itself, such as entering and your race bib, see the organiser's website.
Can I follow someone live during the Rotterdam Marathon?
Yes. If your runner uses Racespot, you get a link. With it you see in your browser where your runner is, with their time, distance and pace. You don't need an app or an account.
How often does the runner's location refresh?
Every 10 seconds. So you see exactly when your runner reaches your spot along the Rotterdam Marathon course.
Can I send a cheer during the Rotterdam Marathon?
Yes. On the follow page, record a cheer of up to 15 seconds and pick the kilometre. The runner hears it right there in their earbuds, even with the screen locked.
Is the Rotterdam Marathon course in the app?
Yes. Pick the Rotterdam Marathon and your distance in the app, and the course and kilometres are already in. Supporters see the course on their map too.
Does the runner need to press start?
No. In the start pen the runner taps I'm in the start pen once. Racespot sees when the race actually starts and stops on its own after the finish.
Can I follow several runners at once?
Yes. If your friends or family are all running the Rotterdam Marathon, even different distances, you follow them together on one map, each in their own colour.
Is Racespot the official timing of the Rotterdam Marathon?
No. Racespot is an independent app for following live and cheering. The official time is the one from the Rotterdam Marathon organisers.
Running the Rotterdam Marathon?
Racespot is almost ready. Join the beta and be one of the first, well before your race in Rotterdam.