JUST TALKED TO RONDA SCHAPPAUGH, ABE'S AMBLE RACE DIRECTOR AND HERE'S THE "OFFICIAL" SCOOP:
CHIPS WILL NOT BE IN YOUR RACE PACKETS. THEY WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY MORNING! (ANOTHER REASON TO ARRIVE EARLY.)
THE RACE WILL HAVE A "GUN START" AND A CHIP FINISH. THIS MEANS THAT YOUR OFFICIAL TIME STARTS WHEN THE GUN IS SOUNDED AND YOUR TIME WILL BE RECORDED ELECTRONICALLY WHEN YOU CROSS THE PAD AT THE FINISH LINE.
THE FIRST 500 TO ARRIVE ON SUNDAY MORNING WILL GET AN ANKLE STRAP WITH THE CHIP IN/ON IT. THE REMAINDER OF THE PARTICIPANTS WILL GET A ZIP TIE THAT GOES ON YOUR SHOE.
REMEMBER - ONLY THE FIRST 1000 ARE GUARANTEED A RACE TEE-SHIRT. NO SHIRTS WILL BE MAILED THIS YEAR!!
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4 comments:
Just want to make sure I understand it clearly...
There will only be a "Gun Start" time. So if you are starting in the back of the pack, your actual race time starts at the same time as the front of the pack racers. Kinda bummed about that setup... whats the purpose of having a chip?
Regardless, its still an improvement in previous years.
Looking forward to see everyone there.
I agree, disappointing news for us slow folk. Now we either have to move closer to the front and risk getting run over or stay in the back and have our times penalized further. If the chips aren't going to give us an accurate race time, why not just save the money and have Cooper do his usual timing magic with that laptop.
It's not the end of the world or anything, I was just looking forward to the idea of having my time start when I crossed the start line. Maybe next year we can get 'real' chips.
Jan, thanks for getting the word out, and great job once again on another sucessful Abe's program! You're the best!
I guessing it helps the volunteers working the finish line. Does having the chip eliminate the need for someone to manually enter bib numbers and finish times?
The chip timing does get an accurate finish time and help with the scoring. There is always the manual scoring as a backup!!! This is the SAME chip timing that is used at the STEAMBOAT CLASSIC. If you want to know your start line to finish line time, hit your watch when you cross the start line and at the Finish Line. These are REAL CHIPS that are used in many professional race. It will not take that much time for the last people to cross the start line. This is the first time that chips are used at Abe's. It really would not be in anyone's best interest to move up closer to the starting line.
Thanks Ronda for all of your hard work!!!!
Kris
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