The evolution of timing running races, from a local 5k to the Boston Marathon, has transitioned from gut to data driven approaches. Prior to technology advancement it was up to the naked eye to determine who won a race. That evolved to the use of a stop watch. As participation grew, so did the need for more sophisticated methods. The advent of chip timing by Dutch running enthusiasts in 1993 marked a turning point, providing the precision required for mass participation events and significantly easing the burden on race organizers. Today, the race timing landscape is diverse; however, it hasn’t evolved significantly in decades. That said, the current ecosystem of timing methods includes everything from pull tab timing to traditional RFID chip systems to newer approaches leveraging mobile applications. Despite these advancements, several key challenges persist in the world of race timing. We’lll examine what we consider to be the top 5 hurdles faced in race timing and explore potential solutions to overcome them.
Traditional chip timing systems can put a significant strain on race budgets, particularly for smaller events. The cost of the chips themselves, the necessary equipment, and the staffing required can be a major obstacle for race directors or for someone aspiring to be a race timer as the capital required to procure timing equipment is not insignificant. That results in timing being a top 3 cost item for nearly, if not all, event organizers and race directors. From a timers perspective, it is the bulk of their upfront capital investment and often requires regular reinvestment in the form of equipment maintenance, chip replacement, and more. Those costs ultimately make it back to the race director because timing is a margin thin business and, unfortunately, timers don’t have the ability to absorb those costs. This section explores ways to mitigate these costs.
While chip timing is generally considered accurate, it's not infallible. Chip malfunctions, improper placement of a chip by the race participant, or glitches in the timing system can lead to inaccuracies in results. Manual backup timing is often necessary, adding another layer of complexity to the process. In order to combat these challenges, race directors often have to staff volunteers, or pay timers additional fees, to ensure timing operations run smoothly on race day. Extra steps are required to thoroughly test systems prior to the race and back up timing systems often require manual non-digital interventions and training must be provided to volunteers.
Managing timing for a large field of runners presents a significant logistical challenge. Setting up timing mats, distributing chips, and managing the influx of data requires detailed planning and coordination. For smaller races, this organizational overhead can be overwhelming. Maybe you’re a parks and rec director starting a race in your community, a non-profit leader trying to run a race to raise funds for your cause, or a start-up event organizer who doesn’t have the time or attention to dedicate to that logistical overhead. Plus, most race directors are interested in putting on a great event, delivering a great product, without the worry of timing details, complex race day plans, or managing the volunteer burden associated with this. Finding a good timer and/or leveraging timing software that streamlines data management and provides real-time results can also be a game-changer, but that leads us back to challenge number one and comes with its own challenges.
Long lines at race check-in, taking extra time to attach a chip, backed up queue at the start or finish line, delays in results, or inaccuracies in timing can detract from the overall participant experience. Many first time racers come to your event with pent up anxiety as it is. They just want to achieve their goal - run that 5k - not worry about how their time is going to be tracked or whether or not they’ve put a chip in the right place or affixed their bib correctly. Runners expect accurate and timely results, and any hiccups in the timing process can lead to confusion, frustration, or worst case scenario: a runner who doesn’t return next year or hangs up their running shoes because of a poor experience. Race directors and timers can mitigate these risks by planning ahead, implementing efficient corralling at the start line, thinking of ways to limit congestion, and streamline the check-in process; however, those are all logistically burdensome things - as we mentioned earlier - that detract from an RD’s or timer’s primary focus: putting on a great event.
Collecting, processing, and analyzing timing data can be a complex undertaking. Race directors need easy access to and effective management of participant data for various purposes, including awards ceremonies, results lists, and post-race analysis. Utilizing timing software with robust data management capabilities is crucial, but that comes at a cost and often times timing software on the market today is not well integrated. It doesn’t talk to the registration software, or the scoring software, or other systems. These disintegrated systems require RD’s and timers to manually upload files, make manual updates to spreadsheets, write down hand written notes, and leads to data loss and data inaccuracies on top of the headache of managing those manual processes.
While current race timing solutions have served the running community well for many years, they represent a legacy approach that is ripe for innovation. There are undoubtedly better ways to time small to medium-sized road races, offering improvements in race day efficiency, the participant experience, and cost-effectiveness for race directors and timers.
In future posts, we'll delve deeper into the future of race timing and explore cutting-edge ways to boost race day efficiency. We'll examine how emerging technologies can address the challenges outlined above and create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for runners and race organizers alike. Subscribe to our blog to stay updated and if these challenges are familiar to you and you’re searching for a better way, give us a shout to learn more about RaceOS or joining our Beta program!
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