Virtually running the Cardiff Half-Marathon

Ever spotted yourself in the crowd at a big event on TV? Did you rewind and point yourself out to friends or family?

What if you were doing something you loved or achieved something big like running a race – the Cardiff Half Marathon, for example. We think it would be cool if you were able to spot yourself and then share it online, so we’re piloting a new approach to using 360° Virtual Reality video.

The hype around Virtual Reality, or VR as it is more commonly known, is at last starting to bear fruit, with new experiences, such as the recent Star War promo, appearing every day. Put simply, 360 video lets you control the camera and point it in any direction around you.

If you wear a VR headset, the camera’s view moves with your head, tricking the brain to make you feel like you are actually there. This can be a very immersive and extraordinary experience.

We showcased such an experience, where you get to be a wind surfer, at a creative session with our BBC Wales Sport team. We were looking at how they could use VR to give a new perspective to the events that they cover and inspiration struck – as most people like to spot themselves on TV, could we do this at a Sport event in which the public participates?

As luck would have it, Run4Wales were up for us experimenting at the upcoming Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half-Marathon. Working with Cardiff-based Virtual Reality specialists Atticus Digital, we filmed with our 360 camera rig suspended in front of the finishing line so we could capture the runners crossing the line.

As far as we are aware this is the first project of its kind. Filming 360° VR video for a long period is difficult – this is a fledgling medium and the kit can be temperamental. To catch as many runners as possible, we filmed the peak finishing times between one hour and two and a half hours. We can’t guarantee we got every one – this is a pilot after all – but we think the experience of looking around is exciting whether you were there or not.

You can see the experience on the BBC’s experimental platform BBC Taster – Finishing Line 360

We’ve learnt a lot about this new medium, which we could potentially apply to other sporting or live events. Whether we try to involve the viewer in the experience again, will depend on the success of this pilot. So please have a look, rate and share it, as it is the only way we can find out what you think.