Race Timing is one of the most important aspects of your race. It is the most valuable thing a participant takes away from the race that makes a lasting impression. You have a choice of
hand or manual timing or
chip timing for your race. If your race is up to about 700 competitors hand timing is a viable and fast option with results available shortly after the last category winner has crossed the line.
Once you reach 500 chip timing becomes a viable option. Within chip timing you have a number of options as well:
- Returnable Chips that have a deposit and need to be returned otherwise you may have to pay the cost, the cost of the chip can vary from £5 to £75. Sometimes the chip is an 'Active' chip which means it has a battery inside it which is why the chip is more expensive.
- Disposable Chips are smaller and can be send out in the post with the race number. They also don't require collecting back in, a real bonus if you are short of volunteers.
If you chose to have chip timing you may well want to to have starting mats as well as finishing mats, perhaps the start is in the same place as the finish. This means the runners will get the official 'Gun' time as well as a 'Chip' or 'Net' time, the time it actually took them to run the race.