TCS London Marathon: Running on belief, tech, and cheers

A little belief goes a long way

Taking part in a marathon is a major commitment. Just getting to the start line requires dedication, planning, perseverance, and putting in a lot of hard yards in training. And reaching the finish line requires all the above and a lot more. 

But if you ask almost any participant to come up with a list of marathon must-haves, it’s likely that belief will sit high on that list. A strong belief in yourself to keep going when it gets tough is crucial, but many TCS London Marathon participants carry with them a belief in a bigger cause than merely a finisher’s medal or a personal best time. Thousands will raise funds for charity and good causes to do their bit to make their communities a better place for all. 

That’s a philosophy shared by TCS. We partnered with the London Marathon to enhance the race experience for participants and to give back to the communities in which we operate. We believe that sports sponsorships can drive business value while fostering the changes required to make society more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.

Innovating for the event

At TCS, we develop and deploy digital technology to solve problems for our customers. We bring the same approach to our sponsorship of the TCS London Marathon to enhance the experience for the participants and supporters alike. The official TCS London Marathon app is a proven game-changer for elite athletes, amateur participants, and their supporters, family, and friends following their progress.

One of the app’s most popular features is the Belief Booster. It allows users to personalise messages of support to people out on the course as they power through the 26.2 miles. When participants hit the last few hundred paces, the Belief Booster comes into its own. The app flashes the messages on giant screens above the finish line, giving tired participants that last bit of belief they need to bring them home. At the 2022 event, the app was downloaded 387,392 times, with 163,000 messages of support posted via the Belief Booster.

Getting the most from the app

You can download the official TCS London Marathon app from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. In addition to the Belief Booster function, supporters can track the progress of participants around the course. It’s a great feature if you are planning to cheer on family or friends on the day of the event.

To follow a participant, just click the tracking tab on the app and enter their name and/or bib number. If the people you are supporting are raising money for charity via the official fundraising platform, you’ll be able to make a donation to their charity of choice by using the donate button in the app. 

If you’re taking part in the event, you can use the app to record your progress, track other participants, and take selfies to post on your social media. You can also find expert tips and advice to ensure you run your best race on the big day. 

For the thousands of people participating in the Virtual TCS London Marathon, the app is the place to log your 26.2 miles and earn that coveted medal and finisher’s T-shirt. It can even play crowd cheering noises, triggered at regular intervals, to give participants a welcome boost.