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Competitive Running

Liana S.

How are race times calculated?

asked almost 2 years ago | Report

I wore a timing "chip" in the last race I ran and my Nike+ sensor/Ipod Touch. Nike timed me at one pace and when they posted the preliminary times on the race website, it listed a pace a full minute different than what I had calculated.

Now, I use "chip" loosely because it was more like a piece of plastic zip-tied to my shoe. Do race times differ depending on the type of sensor?

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  Chris B.

  The timing chip works by transmitting a signal to a computer when you cross a mat on the ground. In short races, there will be a mat on the start line and one at the finish line. The timer starts when you cross the mat at the starting line and stops once you cross the finish line. In longer races (half and full marathons), there may be other mats at random points to make sure participants do not cheat and to provide times for important splits.

  There are a few things that can cause a discrepency between your chip time and Nike+ time. The main cause would be starting your Nike+ before or after crossing the timing mat. In large races, it might take a while for you to actually reach the start line. If you start your timer as soon as you start moving or when the front line starts moving, you will have a difference between the Nike+ and timing chip.

  There also might be a discrepancy if your Nike+ is not calibrated to your stride.

  If you want your Nike+ to be close to the chip time in your next race, take some time before the start of the race and find the timing mat at the start line and note what it looks like. The timing mat at the finish should look similar. Start your Nike+ at the moment you cross the mat at the start and stop it at the moment you cross the mat at the finish.

  answered almost 2 years ago |Report

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