When I crossed the finish line at the USA Triathlon Duathlon National Championships a few weeks ago, I felt proud of achieving one of my best times — or so I thought. But when I checked the results, I found that I had recorded no time at all. What went wrong? Turns out, my timing chip had recorded my times, but had been disconnected from me in the system. Apparently, another participant had lost his or her chip and sorting that out had accidentally deleted my records in the process.
What’s the big deal? For runners around the world like me, the times we record in races are a source of pride. We relish not only the memories in our heads, but also the tangible records in the history books that provide proof of what we’ve accomplished. But as I’ve learned time and again throughout my running career, even the best timing systems can fail. Still, all hope’s not lost. I was able to get my time snafu sorted out and you can too. Here’s how you can prevent a timing error — and help the timekeeper out if one occurs:
1. Make sure your timing chip stays in place.
Perhaps the most important factor in getting a time at all is not only making sure that you start the race with a timing chip, bib or band, but that you also end the race with one of those items on. So before even crossing the start line, make sure that your timing chip is securely tied in place on your shoe and that your timing band, if you have one, is securely closed. If you wear a strap for your timing chip, you can tuck it under your sock to help it stay put. When I reported my issues the other weekend, the timekeeper first asked if I was still wearing my chip (I was) and then told me to keep it in place while he checked the records. Race organizers often say, “No chip, no time,” and by that they mean that the best way to get your time recorded is to keep that chip on from start to finish.
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2. Time yourself.
Whenever I’ve had issues with race results, the best piece of data to have handy has been my own record of the time to show to the timekeeper. If you spot an error in the results, go directly to the timekeeper and show him or her the time you captured on your watch. Generally speaking, this tactic will go a long way in getting the records corrected. Race finishes today are often recorded on video, so if there is a real dispute, the timers can watch the video to verify you came across the line.
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3. Finish with a buddy.
A second handy piece of information to remember is the name or race number of a person who crossed the finish line around the same time as you. When you say, “I came across with number 292,” the timekeeper can then see where you would fall in the finish order and slot you into the correct place. Don’t worry about remembering this information long term; you only need it until you see that the results are correct.
4. Address the topic right away.
It’s best to check the results while you are on-site so you can talk with the timer before the event ends. Typically, results are considered final once they’ve been published, so your best bet is to make sure that any mix-ups get sorted out before you leave. If you do notice something askew later on, you can contact the race organizer by email after the fact, but make sure you know your bib number, finish time and any other information that will be helpful in sorting out the situation when you make that contact. And treat the race officials with respect: Not only is it the right thing to do because chances are they’re working hard and trying their best, but they also have the power to disqualify you if you’re rude.
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Timing systems today are very accurate, but human and technical errors can still happen. If having a properly recorded time is important to you, make sure you at least capture your own time and then promptly follow up to get it sorted out on race day.
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4 Ways Runners Can Avoid or Correct Timing Errors on Race Day originally appeared on usnews.com
