Chipped Races

What are the chips for?

If you are in a race with, say, 20 or 30 other competitors, you’ll all be over the start line in a few seconds.   But for races with thousands of runners, it could be minutes, many minutes, that separate the front from the back.  This means that if you take your time from the big clock at the finish line, you are not going to get an accurate measure of your time.

What a chip system does is set up an individualised timing for you.  The chip will wirelessly interact with the race's timing gadgets when you cross the start line and later, the finish line.

The chip its self is a small device, often a disc of mostly plastic that you fix either to your laces or with a strap around your ankle before the race starts.

After you cross the finishing line, a marshal will usually be there to help you remove the chip & put into a bucket for reuse or recycling.  If you forget, most chips include an envelope or address so you can post it instead.  If you have to pull out of the race, do post the chip back.

Check the race’s website & it’s surprising how quickly the data is processed giving you your actual time.  Many races will email or text you with your result.

Chipping is associated with careful race length measurement which is an art in its self with a myriad of rules to follow.

Not every race is chipped – for example the Race for Life is not.

Alternatives to chips

·         Parkrun uses a different system that relies on volunteers operating a stopwatch and token system – that links to every runner having their own barcode with them.  On crossing the finish line, you are given a token that a marshal then scans along with your own barcode.  That then links to the stop watch time clicked by another marshal – and again, it’s amazing how quickly the data gets processed!

·         The Hampshire CC6 and RR10 cross country series don’t measure time, simply position.  You are given a ticket when you cross the finishing line that you hand to your club’s organiser.