Posted by ernie beach on October 18, 2004 at 23:52:27:
In Reply to: Re: Official Time/Chip Time posted by Nancy DiPietro on October 18, 2004 at 11:46:20:
It's irinic that the chip timing system was born out of a tool that tracks cattle. Te chip technology was utilized to ease scoring for the races because the amount of entrants has made it increasingly difficult to provide adequate scoring. Volunteers are hard to come by; especially qualified ones. In one sense I have to agree that for the recreational runner who participates in crowded races, the chip does make sense for one to capture one's own time. The paper though has the responsibility to release the "official results" that has been recognized by the party that has presented the event. I know what I ran, whether that has been printed or not is secondary to me. The participants chose to run a crowded race and the official results are understood that this includes the time to hit the mat. When one maybe want to see if they can "move up" perhaps run a race that is not so heavily populated. There are many. The chip is good for personal use but I record the official times. I do appreciate the honest runners that start in an appropriate position knowing their correct pace rather than risk injury by starting in the front of the pack. Whether it's for an award or personal satisfaction be grateful to be able to be out there and realize that for most people that is what the participation is all about.