Iowa Runner Creates $1,000 Pacing Tech to Rival $50K Systems

Carson Lane runs middle distance for the University of Iowa, but his biggest race is happening off the track.

The sophomore created Stridelane, an LED pacing system that guides runners to hit exact target times during races. The lights connect to a timing device, set a predetermined pace, and illuminate in sequence around the track for runners to chase. Instead of guessing whether they're on pace, athletes simply look down and follow the lights.

The technology isn't new. Elite meets have used similar systems for years. But those systems cost upward of $50,000 to buy or $7,000 just to rent for a single meet, putting them out of reach for most schools.

Lane saw the gap and filled it. Stridelane rents for $1,000 per meet and sells for $15,000 to $20,000, making professional pacing technology accessible to college and high school programs for the first time.

As a business analytics major, Lane applied his coding and networking coursework directly to the product. He built the entire system before landing a single customer, then leveraged his track network to secure bookings across multiple meets.

The results speak for themselves. At Stridelane's debut at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational in December, 19 athletes set personal records and two meet records fell. At the Bearcat Invite in February, coaches praised how the lights enhanced both competition and atmosphere for athletes and fans.

"I built the product before I had a single customer," Lane said. "However, the biggest challenge in the beginning was overcoming doubt."

That doubt nearly stopped him. Lane admits it felt easier to simply not pursue the idea at all, a fear that kills countless innovations before they start. But he pushed through, committing to his vision even when the path wasn't clear.

The Ripple Effect

Stridelane is democratizing access to technology once reserved for Olympic trials and world championships. High school runners training in small towns now have the same pacing tools as professionals competing in Europe. College programs with tight budgets can afford technology that helps their athletes compete at higher levels.

The impact extends beyond individual performances. Meets using Stridelane report better atmospheres, with spectators more engaged as they watch runners chase the lights around the track. Coaches gain a new tool for helping athletes learn race strategy and pacing discipline.

Lane isn't stopping with pacing lights. He's building an AI coaching tool designed to bring top-tier coaching to athletes at every level, regardless of geography or budget. His goal is making Stridelane a household name in track and field while continuing to innovate solutions that level the playing field.

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs echoes the mindset that got him here: "Don't fear failure."

A college athlete just made professional sports technology affordable for everyone, proving that the best innovations often come from people who've lived the problem they're solving.