Fitness activity monitoring systems and methods

A system for monitoring performance of a participant in a fitness activity, comprising:

• a portable fitness device configured to determine the location of the participant based on a received GPS signal;
• and
• a stationary position beacon disposed in a predetermined position along a route of the fitness activity, wherein the stationary position beacon comprises a race mat and a transmitter configured to transmit timing data to the portable fitness device,
• wherein the portable fitness device is configured to determine performance data of the participant based on location and timing data received from the stationary position beacon.

A method for monitoring performance of a participant in a fitness activity, comprising:

• receiving a GPS signal at a portable fitness device of the participant in the fitness activity;
• determining a location of the participant along a route of the fitness activity based on the received GPS signal;
• providing timing data to stationary position beacons from a race controller;
• receiving, by the portable fitness device, timing data from the stationary positions beacons arranged in predetermined positions along the route of the fitness activity;
• determining performance data of the participant in the fitness activity based on the timing data received from the stationary position beacons;
• and
• receiving at a spectator device of a spectator of the fitness activity the performance data as determined based on the timing data from the stationary position beacons.

A method for monitoring performance of a participant in a fitness activity, comprising:

• receiving a GPS signal at a portable fitness device of the participant in the fitness activity;
• determining a location of the participant along a route of the fitness activity based on the received GPS signal;
• receiving, by the portable fitness device, timing data from a stationary position beacon disposed in a predetermined position along the route of the fitness activity, wherein receiving the timing data at the portable fitness device from the stationary position beacon occurs when the participant crosses the stationary position beacon;
• and
• determining performance data of the participant in the fitness activity based on the timing data received from the stationary position beacon disposed along the route of the fitness activity.

A system for monitoring performance of a participant in a fitness activity, comprising:

• a portable fitness device configured to determine the location of the participant based on a received GPS signal;
• a stationary position beacon disposed in a predetermined position along a route of the fitness activity, wherein the stationary position beacon comprises a transmitter configured to transmit timing data to the portable fitness device;
• and
• a race controller in communication with the stationary position beacon and configured to provide timing data to the stationary position beacon,
• wherein the portable fitness device is configured to determine performance data of the participant based on location and timing data received from the stationary position beacon.

A system for monitoring performance of a participant in a fitness activity, comprising:

• a portable fitness device configured to determine a location of the participant based on a received GPS signal;
• a stationary position beacon disposed in a predetermined position along a route of the fitness activity, wherein the stationary position beacon comprises a transmitter configured to transmit timing data to the portable fitness device;
• and
• a server configured to receive location and timing data from the stationary position beacon and perform a calculation to determine the performance data,
• wherein the portable fitness device is configured to determine performance data of the participant based on location and timing data received from the stationary position beacon.