Timed race

The same trail for everyone, at the same time, against the clock.

How it plays

On your phone, outdoors. Every spot is a sealed place on the map.

Join the game
Open the invitation link, type the eight-character code, or accept the invite in the app’s Games tab.
Read the clue
The clock starts when the moderator starts the race. Clues come one at a time, in the same order for everyone.
Follow the sonar
Walk. The sonar shows the way; on a hidden trail the spot appears only once you are within range.
Stand within 30 metres: open the spot
It reveals the message left there, and the next clue. Keep moving.
Finish first
The board ranks spots found, then finishing time. Fastest to the most spots wins.

What the game itself enforces for a timed race. Nobody has to referee.

How spots open: One at a time, in the order the moderator set. Finding a spot reveals the next clue.
The clock: The race is timed from the moment the moderator starts it.
Who wins: The most spots found; between players with the same number, whoever got there first.
Time limit: Optional, from 1 minute to 7 days. At the limit the race ends by itself, and a find that comes after it does not count.

Opening a spot: Only within 30 metres of it, exactly like a memory.
Open or hidden trail: On an open trail the next spot shows on the sonar at any distance, rough until you are close. On a hidden trail players have only the clue until they are within 100 m, 250 m, 1 km or 1 mile (the moderator picks; 250 m by default).
Clue 3 of 7: Optional: the moderator decides whether players see how many spots there are.
What is recorded: Joining a game means each find stores the time you reached the spot. Your position is never stored.
The moderator: Plans and runs the game, and cannot play it. Spots are fixed once it starts, and all game text must suit all ages.
The end: The moderator ends the game, or it ends by itself once everyone has finished. Medals go to the top three, a finisher trophy to everyone who completed the trail.

For the moderator: plan it on a computer with a big map, or on your phone. Players cannot see a draft.

Start a new game
On trackingmemories.com, or in the app’s Games tab, choose New game and pick Timed race.
Plant the spots
On a computer, click the map. On the phone, long-press the map, or stand on the spot and add it there. Up to 100 spots.
Write the clues
The clue shows before a spot is found. The message, and up to six optional photos, open on arrival.
Invite the players
Share the link or the eight-character code, or invite people by @username.
Start, follow, end
Players are told when it starts. Follow the board as it fills, and end the game when you are ready.

Set the order
Drag the spots into the order everyone follows.
A time limit, if you want one
In minutes, up to 7 days. Leave it empty to end the game yourself.

A few examples. Play it however you like.

A city race with friends
One trail across town, everyone off at the same moment.
A Sunday sprint across a park
A short trail and a one-hour limit.
A team-building afternoon
Colleagues racing the same route, each on their own phone.