To Chip or not to Chip

sideline warrior

A 10k has been run for the past 3 years but numbers have remained static. Feedback is always very positive after the race but we are trying to shake things up this year to see how we can increase numbers. One of the suggestions is that we introduce chip timing. Obviously there is a cost element to this and we are unsure whether the cost can be justified. Do people think that chip timing makes a 10k race more attractive and will actually get more runners to the start line? What are the reasons that you decide to race in one 10k and not another? All suggestions gratefully appreciated.

RayCun

The important thing is to have fast and accurate results. Chip timing is a means to an end.

robinph

Depends on the race.

If it was a big race with several thousand taking part then I'd expect reliable chip timing at both the start and finish, although they should consistently publish the results based on the order people cross the finish line rather than the start mat to finish mat time. Bloody annoying with one of my local races that insist on doing the results ar$e ways.

Middle sized races it can be nice if they have chip timing, but you'll often find they only have finish mat times so it's not really chip timed.

A race with only a hundred or so people then it's really a waste of time money and effort. I'd go for the race with the best cakes.

ThePiedPiper

Chip timing won't really bring more people to the race, in and of itself. In fact, chip timing can be a bit of a gamble. A race I was at last year or the year before introduced chip timing for the first time. The system failed, and nobody had a time or position. Very bad situation. If you can manage the recording of results without chips, go without them, keep a low entry price.

Low entry price will bring more runners. T-shirts will bring more joggers. Cakes and sandwiches will bring me.

wrstan

robinph wrote: »

Depends on the race.

If it was a big race with several thousand taking part then I'd expect reliable chip timing at both the start and finish, although they should consistently publish the results based on the order people cross the finish line rather than the start mat to finish mat time. Bloody annoying with one of my local races that insist on doing the results ar$e ways.

Middle sized races it can be nice if they have chip timing, but you'll often find they only have finish mat times so it's not really chip timed.

A race with only a hundred or so people then it's really a waste of time money and effort. I'd go for the race with the best cakes.

+1 to all of the above and well put

I would definitely have a preference for chip timing when choosing a race. I have turned up for a number of races in the past 12 months that only measure finish mat times, and I've been to races where the so called chip time does not seem to bear any relation to my own watch time. In one case I was at a race where there was chip timing but no start mat. When I asked how that worked, I was told that the starter was in communication with the finish line (about 1k away) and he would tell them when to start the clock for the finish mat.

In cases where the chip timing is not done right it is extremely frustrating and IMHO would be better to have none at all. So my advice would be if you use chip timing then make sure it is done right and your suppliers are reliable. I realise there is a cost to this so that then comes down to a pure commercial assessment.

average_runner

sideline warrior wrote: »

A 10k has been run for the past 3 years but numbers have remained static. Feedback is always very positive after the race but we are trying to shake things up this year to see how we can increase numbers. One of the suggestions is that we introduce chip timing. Obviously there is a cost element to this and we are unsure whether the cost can be justified. Do people think that chip timing makes a 10k race more attractive and will actually get more runners to the start line? What are the reasons that you decide to race in one 10k and not another? All suggestions gratefully appreciated.

The spread afterwards is what gets people attention. You might not get great numbers this year for it but word will spread and we come running.

A example of a race i love is the bhaa k-club 10k.
20 euros, finishing map chip time(not important).

But the spread afterwards, cakes, sandwiches, sausages etc. All great.

If your race is on at easter give cadbury creme eggs out at the end of it.


T-shirts arent important any more

robinph

Food afterwards and people will hang around and chat, have a good time, tell their mates and then more people will turn up next time.

Chip timing, people will disappear straight away and then complain on boards about the course being a meter too long and you not having the mat in the right place.

Also what is the purpose of the race? If it's a charity one then giving people cake give you the chance to promote your charity to them subtly afterwards, if it's a running club then you get a chance to persuade potential new members to join as you are obviously a great club who enjoy socialising and cake.

It's all about the cake.

sideline warrior

Thanks for the votes and comments. So far it appears that the after race refreshments are paramount and everything else is incidental :-) we always have a decent spread anyway but now need to ensure top quality cake. If we do go down the chip route it's essential that its flawless and the course is accurately measured, which it is. Any other comments are welcome.

brutes1

It adds a couple of quid to the cost per head, but will save the organisers time, and people needed in race organisation
I have manually timed finishes in races with above 500 entrants using a handtimer , needed 2 others to take printouts, match numbers to times, list results etc - so chip system will obviously compute results quicker..
May be no harm in having a backup check for the top 10/category winners just in case something goes wrong, depends how important race is eg a club race would want to be right or it could have longer term impact if its a fundraiser for the club for the year

plodder

sideline warrior wrote: »

Thanks for the votes and comments. So far it appears that the after race refreshments are paramount and everything else is incidental :-) we always have a decent spread anyway but now need to ensure top quality cake. If we do go down the chip route it's essential that its flawless and the course is accurately measured, which it is. Any other comments are welcome.

I'd add accurate and up to date information about the course (a map), and logistics like parking etc. on a webpage. A mobile phone number won't cut it, for attracting new people, these days.

sideline warrior

Thanks for all the comments and poll votes. Anyone else care to give their tuppence worth, feel free.