RACE PLANNING

We provide:

Finish line equipment - if your race is within driving distance of Denver, Colorado, we will bring the the equipment needed to set up the finish line chute and a finish line structure.

Timing Equipment -

• Traditional Timing - Traditional timing, or tag pull timing, is a manual method that was used before chip timing equipment was invented. It utilizes a timing computer (I use TimeMachines), and tags that are part of the bibs. As each runner crosses the finish, a time is entered in the TimeMachine which is then transmitted to the timing software in a laptop. The tags on the bibs are then pulled and put on a stringer in the order runners crossed the finish line. The bib numbers on the tags are then scanned into the timing software and are matched, in order, to the finish times collected to provide the results. Benefits of this method are it is less expensive, and the results can be produced just about as fast as chip timing, but the accuracy of the results are dependent on the volunteers following their instructions. For Traditional Timing, we bring fully charged, battery-operated TimeMachine printing timers, laptops for recording times and bib numbers electronically, and laser printers to print results. We bring numbered stringers to collect the tear-off bib tags. We bring blank tags for finishers that are either not wearing a bib, or whose bib tag is missing or otherwise unusable.

Your race on FinishLineTiming.com - we'll build a web page for your race on our website with a link to you website and your online registration site.

Online Race Calendars - we'll post your race on regional race calendars to help promote your race.

Online Registration - We'll help you set up your race for online registration on your preferred service provider.

Finish Line Training - we with work with your volunteers so that they understand the timing process, and train them for the roles we'll need them to fill. We like to train the volunteers at least one hour prior to the start of the race.

Volunteer Job Descriptions - well before race day, we provide you with detailed written descriptions for the different positions we need people for, so each potential recruit will know when they should show up, what they can expect to be doing at the race, and how much of their time it will take.

Results - we will post tentative results during the race, so that athletes can see how they did, and can inform us of any anomalies that we were not aware of (for example, spouses or friends wearing each other's bib number, incorrect birth dates and/or ages, misassigned genders, people that finished but are not in the results, etc). Final results will be posted on our website that same day.

Award Reports - To make handing out awards as simple as possible, we prepare custom reports that show who the top people or teams are in each award category.

Web Results - Results will be uploaded to www.FinishLineTiming.com after the race, so that athletes with Internet access can get their official time and place as soon as possible after the race.

Consulting Services - we are happy to work with you using our race directing background to assist you in making your race go smoothly.

We need you to provide:

Race Information - When and where is the race? What award categories do you plan to have? Your race registration form should collect all of the information needed for determining awards: name, gender and birth date. Your race registration form should also have a for Office Use Only location where the bib number assigned to a participant can be recorded.

Pre-Race Registration - The results of your race begins at registration - accurate race results depend on accurate registration data. We can upload any file that you provide into our race timing software. It can also import data from files downloaded from online race registration sites such as Active.com, GetMeRegistered, RunningGuru.com, etc. If you also do paper registration, the data from those forms also needs to be entered into a spreadsheet so we can import it into our timing software.

When you're done with pre-race registration, email us the database, and we'll take over registration duties from there.

Power - 110V nearby with a standard 3-prong outlet. If possible, please test the electrical outlets prior to race day to be sure they are working. Any sound system you employ should be on a separate circuit. If not available, we have a generator for an additional charge.

Volunteers - Depending on the size of your race, we will need you to supply 6-15 people for the finish line chute.

Tear off bibs -The bib numbers worn by the athletes must have a tear-off portion at the bottom with a barcode printed on it. We will supply you with labels that has the runner information on them. We are happy to help you order bibs from vendors we have worked with.

Timeline:

Two days before race - email us a spreadsheet of your registered runners

Early on the day before the race - we will provide you (mailed overnight or hand delivered) with the bar coded labels to put on the bibs and if requested, labels to put on the outside of your race packets.

Race morning - we'll set up the finish line chute and enter last minute registrations. If you expect heavy race day registration, we will need you to provide a volunteer(s) to assist in entering the registration data in to a spreadsheet we'll provide.

Links for Race Directors

Last updated 12/16/2010