Chip Timing Question...

[buckeyecinderella]

Hello. When racing with the disposible timing chips on your shoes (D-tag maybe?) how close to the "mats" do I need to get in order for my time to be properly recorded?

At a recent race, at the finish line, there were 2 mats. I was not sure if I needed to step on the center of each one? Or should I have stepped in the middle between the two mats? Do I need to even step on the mat at all or will just passing over it work?

New to this and have heard that sometimes if you don't step in the right place your time might not be recorded.

Thanks!

 

[cewait]

All you have to do is cross the mat. Ideally, you would not cross on the edge of the mat as the eddy effect neat the end of the field. You do not have to touch the mat. The reason for the two mats is to assure that times are recorded in the event one section of a mat fails.

 

[FFigawi]

As Charles said, all you need to do is cross the mat. The tags are designed to be able to be read from several feet in the air, so even if you don't actually step on one of the mats, your tag should still be read and your time recorded.

 

[elbowglitter]

One thing I like about Disney races is that at the Expo, they have a place where you can try out your chip. While holding it in your hand (along with all your other race stuff), you walk across the map and watch your name pop up on the computer screen. It shows just how sensitive those things really are.

Now, my friend is obsessed with time, so she is always careful to try to cross the start line with the chip shoe crossing last and then cross the finish with the chip shoe crossing first....

 

[budpaulsaint]

Now, my friend is obsessed with time, so she is always careful to try to cross the start line with the chip shoe crossing last and then cross the finish with the chip shoe crossing first....

I'm no expert but I believe that is the very definition of obsessed!

 

[tiberius]

Now, my friend is obsessed with time, so she is always careful to try to cross the start line with the chip shoe crossing last and then cross the finish with the chip shoe crossing first....

She's not the only one!

 

[johde]

As everyone has said, chip timing is very good but not foolproof. In my first half marathon, my chip didn't read at least 1 place on the course. It was one of the B-chip, chips on bib. I eventually received a time (the wrong time) and ended up needing to do my own detective work to get it fixed. That chip check would have been real nice. I may suggest it for next years race.

Jeremy Ohde

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Thanks for the information! I might even shave off a second or two if I'm not struggling to hit the mat in exactly the right place!

 

[FireDancer]

Sometimes the dual mats are also for two different events. I've done 5Ks and 10K's with a common finish line and often one mat is for one race and the other for the other. Also, if walkers and runners are timed separately one could be for each. Lastly, on an out and back course sometimes one is the start mat and the other the finish mat.

I've only had one time when my chip didn't register and it was for a 2nd overall so I made sure they timers knew and they manually entered it.