Chip PSA

[WDWFAN9]

Hi Team!

Just wanted to give everyone a head's up about a type of disposable chip that's been used at the last two races we've done. The chip is a disc that slips on your shoe laces like a paper clip. In Buffalo we were given a plastic tie like the ones used with the old championship chips to secure the chip. Even so Lily found a chip on the course and swiped it across the timing mats as we went. This past weekend in Minneapolis the chips did not come with a tie. You were just supposed to slip it on your laces. We knew to secure ours - either threading the shoelace through it, using a safety pin, or tied with a string. WISHers picked up FOUR chips on the course. Swiped them over the mats so the owners would get an official finish, but darn, they are going to be disappointed with their back-of-the-pack time!!

If you do an event with this type of chip be sure that you don't lose it on the course!!

 

[FFigawi]

One more reason why the D-tags have become so popular recently. I do miss the beeping when crossing the mats though.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Oh no, that is so sad.

I recently did a 5 mile race that had the chip in the bib. It felt weird not having anything on your foot, but at least you couldn't lose it. They are made by champion chip - it was kinda cool.

Oh, and good job WISH team taking time to help others

Kirsty

 

[cewait]

I recently ran a bib-chip race and likewise felt wierd.

On the subject of the original post....

Thanks for the PSA on that style chip.

I know you were doing the right thing by running found chips over mats but I would think that a better solution would be to hand the chip to a worker at the line. A RD should have a procedure for correcting results of runners with missing chips. It's not the end of the world by doing what you did, but by handing the chips over to the race workers they have record of who lost their chips. That way, if a runner is looking for an official time in the race, the RD already knows they are missing the chip. It can make it easier to clear up an incorrect time.

 

[K80K]

I recently did a B-tag race where the bibs were made of biodegradable paper with wildflower seeds in the paper. They ended up having to give us all D-tags as well because as we began to sweat the paper wore through and the bibs started falling off their runners left and right. I've never seen anything like it. I am just glad they knew ahead of time and had the backup plan of the D-tag.

 

[johde]

I had one of those B-Tags chips on the in the last race it ran. It didn't register at least once. So, for a while I had the no time, then I had the wrong time. I eventually had to do my own detective work with finish line photos and start line videos to get my official time (mostly) fixed. I do have a Garmin So I know what I did. All of the systems seem to have their problems.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Charles - we did turn the chips into a race volunteer at the finish and also spoke to someone with a clipboard who noted our concerns. It must have been an awful feeling for those racers when they realized they'd lost their chips. Hopefully we've all learned from this!

 

[FireDancer]

Thanks for the PSA. I haven't seen anything other then D-tags and B-tags used in a while now. I like the D-tags better because I like to fold my bib so only the number is showing and attach it to my shorts. You can't do that with the B-tags (on the bib). I did do two races this spring with the new bib tags (National half and Indy) and had no problems registering with either.

I do love that with either you don't have to stop at the finish line and bend over to take the old chips off your shoe. I always found it weird they would do that since one of the things they tell you never to do is lower your head below your heart after any high intensity exercise.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I use these new disposable chips from Mylaps(formerly known as ChampionChip) with my chip timing equipment. I provide the ties with the chips. I would NEVER recommend just tucking them under the laces for the reason mentioned. I would recommend just use your shoe lace to secure if there was no zip tie provided since the RD doesn't have to collect them.

Disposable chips are the way of the future. Save collecting chips.

 

[cewait]

Charles - we did turn the chips into a race volunteer at the finish and also spoke to someone with a clipboard who noted our concerns. It must have been an awful feeling for those racers when they realized they'd lost their chips. Hopefully we've all learned from this!

Great!. I just read it as you ran them through. My bad if that is what you said. I am one of the "where the heck did the chip go?" folks out there. Mine is in the bottom of Town Lake Austin. It came off during a swim and I was stopped by a volunteer at bike out - thankfully she gave me a chip there so I would have time for the rest of the race.

---------------

I am a heavy sweater so if I read about B chips I will say no thanks.

 

[Mark214]

What bothers me about the D-Tags is that they are just one more item that ends up in the garbage. When I did the Cherry Blossom 10 miler earlier this spring, they had boxes out that you could place your D-Tag in. They were going to send them back to the company for recycling. This is the only race I have been at that uses D-Tags and makes an effort to recycle them. I even recycled my Goofy tags at the Cherry Blossom.

At Boston this year, they used a commemorative chip with the Boston Marathon logo. That is something I will always keep. They also eliminated the Styrofoam plates used at the pre-race pasta party with a biodegradable version.

 

[cewait]

What bothers me about the D-Tags is that they are just one more item that ends up in the garbage. When I did the Cherry Blossom 10 miler earlier this spring, they had boxes out that you could place your D-Tag in. They were going to send them back to the company for recycling. This is the only race I have been at that uses D-Tags and makes an effort to recycle them. I even recycled my Goofy tags at the Cherry Blossom.

At Boston this year, they used a commemorative chip with the Boston Marathon logo. That is something I will always keep. They also eliminated the Styrofoam plates used at the pre-race pasta party with a biodegradable version.

Many local races offer D-Tag recycling. I think it is a great idea and one that the manufacturer (if they were sharp) would offer. For me I started a D Tag chain late last year, It's about 5 feet long at this time and groing.

 

[Mark214]

The company does offer recycling, but you have to mail the D-Tag back to them. To me, that defeats the purpose of trying to be green. Hopefully, the D-Tag will be short lived and better biodegradeable options will be developed.

 

[FFigawi]

The company does offer recycling, but you have to mail the D-Tag back to them. To me, that defeats the purpose of trying to be green. Hopefully, the D-Tag will be short lived and better biodegradeable options will be developed.

That's why I've always been a fan of the ChampionChips. Sure they caused congestion and volunteer problems when people stopped to get them cut off their shoes at the end of a race, but they were certainly green and reusable. You could even buy your own and use it forever, although forever seems to have ended two years ago when the D-tags came out.