I ran in a 4 mile run on the 4th. (Suffice it to say, they could have timed me on a calendar!) I guess there were about 1000 runners. I kept my time on my watch. All runners wore numbers, which had a small tear-off portion with a barcode. After we crossed the finish line, we lined up in any of a number of chutes. Runners in each chute handed the tear off-portion to someone who threaded them on a lanyard.
Approx 10 minutes later, I got a computer printout with my time and place. The computer’s time was within a second of what I recorded on my watch.
So how is it done?
Sorry if the answer would be obvious to any astute observer, but I was too busy trying to maintain consciousness while finishing to pay adequate attention to my surroundings.
Was there a larger barcode on the number you wore? You may have been scanned at the start and finish line, and the tear-off barcode was to confirm your identity, like a hat-check.
Or, were you given a chip to put on your shoelace?
Well, they’ve got someone off to the side that records when a runner crosses the line. (obviously in your case they recorded it in some sort of computer program, but I’ve seen it done by hand in really small races)
I’m not 100% certain, but I’m figuring that they then match up the finish times with the bib numbers - those strips that are collected are supposedly collected in the order that you finish.
However, if I think about logistics, I’m not sure this could be done in a span of 10 minutes. I’m guessing maybe they record more information at the finish line than just time crossed. Maybe they are inputting bib numbers as well, and collecting the strips is a double check for later.
Aw, this is why I prefer races that are chip timed. That way, a computer records when I start and when I finish, and you don’t have to futz around with the tear-off strips. Plus you actually get to find out your true running time, which doesn’t include the time it took you to get up to the start (and trust me, when you’re not quick, you’re in the back of the pack and it takes a while).
So, I may or may not have actually answered the question. I’m pretty much just basing my response on what I’ve seen people do in the finish area. I’ve never actually worked at the finish line.
I’ll have to check my number when I get home - I think the barcode was on the tear-off portion. The barcode itself was small, I’d guess approx 1/2"X1". There was no requirement that you wear your number on a certain place - I saw folks with it on their chests, backs, and shorts. Some had it folded small so just the smallest possible part with their number showed.
No chip for the shoes.
There were approx 1100 runners. At certain times, several runners finished very close to each other. Made me think it would be hard for someone to manually key in the numbers accurately.
The runners filed into any of a number of chutes AFTER the finish line. That is what confused me. For example, I stumbled into a line that had a couple of people in it ahead of me, and the chute next to me was clear. So someone who finished after me, got their tag torn off and handed in before me. In any event, there were probably 6 or so chutes, each manned by a different volunteer who was threading the slips from his or her chute, so I do not see how they would be able to compile the different threads.
I am - at best - a recreational runner. So accuracy of the time is not all that important. But I WAS impressed that the official result was extremely close to my personally kept time.
The timing company has a website where the complete results are posted. I’ll head over there to see if they have any info on how it is done.
**DRKomputing will set up a network of computers at your finish area to provide complete timing and race results. Bar-coded entry is used for accurate and fast results. **
I’m still wondering what kind of setup they had to accurately record all of the finishers, wherever they wore their numbers. Next year I’ll have to pay better attention.
Just a guess here, but if I were attempting to build a computer timing system using the logistics you supplied, I’d record the time as each person ran (or, in your case, stumbled) into the chute and then use the turned-in barcode to determine exactly who it was that had entered the chute. A computer could easily handle the case where, say, ten people were queued up in a chute (as long as everybody keeps their place in the queue) assuming a first-in, first-out sequence.
Generally the way I’ve seen this done is as each runner crosses the line, an official presses a button connected to the clock which records that someone has crossed the line. You are then placed in the chutes in order and your numbers are taken in that order. It’s easy then to match up the person with the time even if people crossed the finish line very close to each other.
I’ll have to see if my wife’s recollection is the same as mine - but I do not recall any effort to organize folk as they entered the chutes to remain in the same order that they finished.
After you crossed the finish line, it was essentially the same as if you are faced with a number of checkout lanes - I stumbled into the one immediately in front of me. It happened to have a couple of peole already in it, and the guy who was taking the tear-off tabs was fumbling with his lanyard. The chute immediately to my right was wide open, and the woman manning it was calling to runners that were finishing after me along the fashion of a check out clerk calling “register open on aisle 9.” And someone who finished after me, ran through that chute and handed in their tab, while I was standing there waiting my chance to hand in mine.
I clicked my watch when I crossed the line. It must have taken at least a few seconds to get my tab handed in. But my official time was within a second of what my watch recorded.
I’ll try to contact the company and see if they will/can give me any info.
Hmmm. It may be that the finish area volunteers weren’t doing it properly. Mostly they are volunteers, and many of them are not runners themselves - they are high school kids, racers family members, etc. Same with the folks at the water stops. Many of them have not run in a race themselves, and their only direction comes on race morning. Hopefully the finish area personnell are more familiar with things, since their jobs are critical to awards, finish times, etc, but I guess you never know.
I’ve been to races with the multiple chute thing. It’s very common. However, generally you are herded into one chute. When that chute fills up, they cordon it off and start directing runners into another one. Or something like that, but the effect is controlling who goes into what chute, presumably to keep the order intact.
And yes, all of this does rely on the runners not trying to cut in front of the guy who finished just a smidge ahead of them.
Yeah - as I was standing in line, I had the urge to duck under the ropes and hand my tag to the woman in the empty chute next to me. But, as I tried to indicate, it doesn’t seem to have mattered, since the official time I was eventually given was essentially the same as I clocked crossing the finish line - before entering the chute.
It can really be confusing being a low-tech person in an increasingly technological society!
How about this: They put an electric eye across the opening of the chute (at the finish line). Therefore, they know the finish times for the first place runner, followed by the second, third, fourth, and so on. The runners, for the most part, stay in order in the chute. Every race I’ve been to, the staff takes the little tags, and puts them on a skewer to keep them in order. So now you know who the first, second, third, etc. place runners are, and all you have to do is match the list of finishers up with the list of finishing times.
I like chip-timed races better myself, simply because they take into account the time it takes a runner in a very large race to reach the start line, so you aren’t penalized for waiting back in the pack with all the other runners at your pace.
Interesting thing to note, SuperNelson, (not that this is relevant to the OP), USATF rules state that awards for placing overall and in division are based on gun time, not chip time.
Interesting thing happened at the Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon the other month - a fellow I know made the trip up north to run the race. He was the first runner across the line, winning the race. However, some dude who was 5 minutes late to the start, ran a faster time. This dude was given the award. A debate then ensued about using chip time versus gun time. I believe the outcome was that my pal [who was the first to cross the line] eventually was named the winner, because his gun time was faster. It may well just be a hollow victory, seeing as how he’s now aware that there was someone out there who ran a faster race.
Fortunately, I never have to worry about such scandals. I’m definitely mid pack, and definitely out of contention for division and overall awards.
