Comments on: Wear Your Number http://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/21/wear-your-number/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Larry Greenberghttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/21/wear-your-number/#comment-49723 Larry Greenberg Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:41:42 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=49054#comment-49723 The chips, which are worn on your shoe serve two purposes. 1. They allow the timing company to start your official time for the race when you actually cross the starting line. For a race like the NYC Marathon, which has 35,000+ entrants, it took me more than five minutes to reach the starting line from where I was lined up. The starting line has a electronic mat placed across it that interacts with the chip. It knows the runner's number and starts his/her time based on when he/she actually crosses the mat. 2. As you mentioned the chip is also used to help track runners. There are several timing mats placed throughout the course, at different splits, 5K, 10K etc. When the runner crosses one of those mats their time is transmitted. Often times these results are sent to friend and family via SMS, if the race offers it, or posted on line. The chips, which are worn on your shoe serve two purposes.

1. They allow the timing company to start your official time for the race when you actually cross the starting line. For a race like the NYC Marathon, which has 35,000+ entrants, it took me more than five minutes to reach the starting line from where I was lined up. The starting line has a electronic mat placed across it that interacts with the chip. It knows the runner’s number and starts his/her time based on when he/she actually crosses the mat.

2. As you mentioned the chip is also used to help track runners. There are several timing mats placed throughout the course, at different splits, 5K, 10K etc. When the runner crosses one of those mats their time is transmitted. Often times these results are sent to friend and family via SMS, if the race offers it, or posted on line.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2009/09/21/wear-your-number/#comment-49722 Wayne Schulz Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:35:55 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=49054#comment-49722 That's a really cool idea. I also never knew about all the tracking stuff that these races offer -- based on the chips they give I think some let you follow your favorite runner. That’s a really cool idea. I also never knew about all the tracking stuff that these races offer — based on the chips they give I think some let you follow your favorite runner.

]]>