Manatee Mentors 2015.2 CLOSED (Poptarts? Pet pics?) (Page 93)

Yes, I've seen people run with the GoPro chest harness things.  Once was at RnR Vegas.  I'm sure that she got lots of (ette) shots and not much of The Strip.

+1 on the feeling, but....

Ok, that's awesome. Hadn't seen, so thanks for sharing! I'll even make J do his

I'm waiting for 90 minutes+ so I can use it for safety on a bike ride. Imagine that following you as you ride. There was one at the beginning of the HM I did in Feb, but it was controlled by the race folks. They posted the video of the start and it was pretty neat to see.

I'd think this would get shots of pace booty but not the runner him/herself.  I can see Chris's point of having the race officials controlling one or maybe official videographers use one, but only if it was just hovering, not following individual runners throughout the race.  The photogs could even sell video clips although that might be an editing nightmare!! 

It could be useful for bike races, though.  They could get rid of those dangerous motos.

Chris, would you use the drone to get video of yourself or the route you're riding?

That is an amazing idea!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had a few races over the last year or so where the race people have used drones at the start and then post the video.  It is pretty cool.

I can imagine you riding around Englewood with a drone following you.  For about 5 minutes.  And then someone would shoot it down  

I'm sure this will be discussed in TT, but I've always wondered about the legality of charging people for a chance to participate in a race...

ETA: I'm not sure of a better way to run a lottery system though. This could be the end of the lottery...

Deer Trail, CO, actually proposed drone hunting licenses last year.  It was a tongue-in-cheek way to get some publicity; it was "shot down" by the voters.

Ping-ping-ping! lol

While it's certainly another step up in cool gadgets, I don't know that we need anything else around us to distract ourselves/drivers more than we already are. "Wow! Check out the drone! (CRASH)....oh, guess there was a bike under it." or the wind picks up/battery gets low and suddenly biker is more worried about the drone's "safety" than his/her own.

Plus, aren't people annoyed by mosquitoes? That's all I can imagine when I think of these things.

Yeah, the race itself doing this can be very interesting. I've seen a few drone shots that were really something. The objection was for lots of individual runners doing it. That's a disaster in the making. Where this could be interesting is that the race can assign one to a runner. Or even to a few runners expected to be in various parts of the race, and just let the cameras follow them. But still keep things with the race organizations control.

What are you saying?  Do you think we are a bit, um, backwoodish?

Mary, I'd like to be able to have it track me and in the event of an accident, I'd have a pretty good pic of the car, and the entire crash scenario. Of course, there would be no license plate info, so I'm not sure which would be better, that or a bike mounted one. A GoPro or Fly12 or Garmin Virb comes to mind. Cycliq, who makes the Fly12 makes a rear facing one as well, the Fly6.

Change the name so that it doesn't include the word "lottery". "Reduced pricing entry contest" or some such nonsense.

PSA:  For anybody interested in a HED Jet 6 Plus wheelset or some RoadID gear, they're having pop-quiz giveaway contest drawings through 5/17.  The wheelset is the grand prize, daily prizes are bike kit (jersey, bibs, socks, plus a clip-on light and RoadID) or a commuter set (backpack, socks, clip-on light, RoadID).  Plus you get a 15% off coupon just for answering the daily question right.

I think drones can provide a beautiful, unique perspective of a race. But the idea of a bunch of athletes using them individually is a terrible idea. I'm not  even sure athletes should probably be using electronic devises in a race at all. Too many people are too inconsiderate...

As cool as some of the promo video is on these products, real life reliability and performance is another thing.  It is usually vastly different.  We bought a fairly expensive drone for my son for xmas.  More for the flying aspect then the video and picture taking.  He loves remote control stuff.  It went back to the store the next day.  In doing some online research after the fact, it was pretty well documented that battery life claims were way off.  20 minutes was more like 5.  I suspect that the technology will in fact catch up with the claims but these things are sent to market way too soon.  I watched a video on the Lily and it was all over the place.

Aside from the mechanical/technology issues, I hate the idea of the intrusive nature of these things.  While some of the official footage of some events I have been is pretty cool I do not want one buzzing along or around my immediate vicinity.  It's like folks that blast music from small external speakers during a race.  If you want to listen to music fine, use your headphones but I don't want to have to listen to it.  If you want to selfie yourself during a race have someone snap your picture.  A race should not be a personal multi-media show that infringes and distorts others peoples experience.  Pheww!!!   

Believe it or not I have actually allowed my toes to be painted for the amusement of my family.  Had a nice little heart painted on one for valentines day.  Sounds like a really cool program.  Do not expect me to post pix here.

Doesn't matter what you call it, if it has the elements of the offense-entry fee, random chance to win, prize, it is illegal.  They tried calling it a membership, but that didn't change things.  They have to change one of the elements, eg, no fee to enter.  I've wondered how all these races have been able to get away with lotteries like this...

Nope, i'm saying you live in Florida, the shoot first ask questions later state!

Very interesting.  I've been throwing into this years.  First time I've ever seen actual participant volumes.  Quite a bit higher than I had thought.  It will be interesting where they go from here.  I hope they are able to continue some type of program as it is probably the only way I will ever get to experience Kona.  

$2.8mil to the government... Or did I miss where the participants who are actually the "wronged" parties would be reimbursed? They're paying the fine and admitting no wrongdoing. It's a win-win! lol

What?! You'll post pix on Twitter but not here?!  Sheesh.  Guess we just don't rate.

I'm okay with not seeing runners feet.

Ummmm...we ARE master stalkers, no?

Definitely agree with that. There will always be some people who get carried away with something fun and ruin it for everyone.

Yeah, it seems like they got off really easy - no criminal charges either.  Fines always go to the government, restitution goes to the victims; but, I don't know that people who paid into the lottery are actually victims.  They got what was advertised and what they paid for, they are not out anything else.  I suppose everyone who entered could try to band together to form a class action lawsuit against them.  If successful, a class action suit usually results in big money -for the attorneys!!