Spits Simplified

[Tim Irvine]

OK,I have never done a split race with AGEE, however, I have one coming up in April and I ran a simulation today. I am using 3 computers. 5 split race. Computer A - Trans in from Run, and Trans IN from Bike. Computer B Trans Out with Bike, Trans Out to final run. Computer C Finish Line Time.

  I ran my simulation race and did splits and all. However, I imported the splits and ran an overall report and no results show up. 

I found a lot of different threads about splits on here , but I can't find one that gives a step by step on how to import splits and produce results.

  Most threads pickup and discuss various aspects of splits. But not a how to. So can someone give me the Splits 101? Thanks, Tim

[Brian Agee]

Here are the key concepts for how this should be setup and how the system works:

1. Create the race.

2. After all pre-registered athletes are imported, copy that database to the split computers (A & B). 

a. When importing splits, the "RaceID" is used for the software to know which split times belong to which race. So this is why the split computers must capture their splits in the same master race that will be used to record finishing times. You can see the "RaceID" if you open the Assign RFID Tag screen. Making tags 'race specific' and importing split times is the only two occasions where the "id" of the race is used to perform a task, so I do not list this ID throughout the program because for most people it's meaningless.

b. If your race will have race-day registration, it's probably best to import a file of dummy athletes "Participant 1", "Participant 2", etc. into Computer A & B so that you do not have to worry about updating those computers after race-day registration is done.

3. On Computer A you can change the race name to something like "Transition Entry Splits" and on Computer B you can change the name to something like "Transition Exit Splits" and set both as a 2 Lap race. Changing the name is not necessary, but I like doing this in case I want to hook up a printer and print/post the split times before the race is over.

a. I would set the "Gap" time for the first split to something very large - an amount of time short enough you know is not possible for someone to complete the Bike portion, but the gap time should be long enough so that a tag is ignored if they enter from the run and then hang around the antenna(s) for a few minutes.

b. Your finish line computer should be setup as a 1-lap race if all it's doing is capture the finishing times.  

4. You can setup the split stations, start the clock, and have them "listening" WELL before the race actually begins (even the night before if you wanted to). So I try to set these up first thing when I show up on race morning, this way the rest of the day I'm doing everything like normal (setting up the finish, handling registration, and timing). It may be good to have a volunteer at any split stations that are close enough for people to run past as they are warming up for the race. The volunteer would need to keep people well away from the antenna or lay the antenna face down until the race begins.

a. When you import the split times, the software is ONLY pulling in the Date/Time stamps for each split that was captured. So the clock time on those split computers is irrelevant! You do however want to make sure that the System/Windows Clock on your split computers is in sync with the finish line computer.

b. The only time you may want to fix the clock time on the split computer(s) is if you want to print the split times directly from the split computers before the end of the race. In this case, just adjust the clock like normal on the Clock screen when the volunteers bring the equipment to the finish line for you.

c.  You can only import split times after the last person has completed the race. Doing it this way means that the software knows who has finished and who has not. So if you have a participant was not picked up at a split station the software will know to create a dummy split (which will appear as 00:00:00.000) for them and keep their finishing time.

5. Before importing splits I like to go ahead and print off the overall and division awards, this way the race director can go ahead and get started calling out the awards as I import the split times. Importing split times consists of copying the database file from Computer A onto a jump drive and plugging the jump drive into the finish line computer. Open the Edit Race screen, click on the "Split Descriptions" tab, use the link at the top of that tab to import split times. Do this same process for Computer B.

Writing out the process in this much detail might make it look worse than it is. We've timed a 16-20 wave kids triathlon every year and probably five other races where we capture splits on the course and it's always gone well. Here is what I think you'll like about the process:

1. Adding a bunch of dummy records to Computer A & B and then setting up those stations first thing in the morning will allow you to forget about those stations and do everything else normally to time the race.

2. This setup also allows you to know that no matter what happens out on the course with those stations, they have no effect at all on your ability to get finishing times and print accurate division results.

3. There is no concern about networking the computers together or make sure they all have internet access.

[Brian Agee]

Sorry, that was supposed to say "probably five other races each year "

[Tim Irvine]

I just realized I left the "L" off splits in my headline. I blame the Falcons of course for blowing a 25 point lead in the Super Bowl.

[Bruce B]

Why are posts being deleted?

[Brian Agee]

I've only deleted a single post since the forum was created (someone just pushing their bib tags and being obnoxious), there is one other person that has admin permissions and can delete others post but I've checked with him and he doesn't delete any posts either. So the only other option is that someone posted something and then deleted their own post. If anyone has posted and has found that their post was deleted then let me know.

What's interesting is that (depending on your account settings) all posts are also sent to you via email, and the "2 messages have been deleted." never came across as email messages either, so part of me wonders if these are messages that were started but they never clicked "Post" - or some other combination of events where Google Groups marks it as deleted even though it actually wasn't.

[Brian Agee]

Wait a minute, I came back here again and now I do see that the following posts (which are in my email) are no longer in this thread:

Tim Irvine

"Does anyone know of a way to delete splits before I scrap the whole race and start over?"

Peak Timing:

"Just wondering why both of the split computers A and B need to be set to 2 lap races?"

Tim, Peak:

Did someone answer your questions via private message and you deleted your posts?

In case they did not, here are the answers:

Tim:  Just edit the race and change the "Laps" down to whatever number you need and the Split Descriptions list will automatically add/remove the necessary items.

Peak: I believe Tim mentioned he needed those computers to capture 2 splits each (one capturing the entrance into the transition area, the other capturing the exits from the transition area). So the software on those computers needs to be setup to capture 2 splits.

[Bruce B]

I accidentally hit reply from my email starting the snowball. No worries just thought it was strange the posts were disappearing.

Haven't found a way to undo the splits. I always make a copy of all the databases before doing any minipulating. Just in case something goes wrong with imports you can start over.
Bruce

[Brian Agee]

With Version 5.0 it will automatically create a backup for you when you use the Import Splits feature.

I think prior to 5.0 the only auto-backup (besides the auto-copy (F7) option on the Clock screen) is if you were importing chip start times. A couple months ago I realized it needed to occur when import splits too.

[SNRyan]

Ok so I've finally started feeling well enough to test and play around with splits (and reading this thread), and it is very cool how you have it set up! I had one question after all the testing. You mention above that you can adjust the race clock if you want to print out the split results before the end of the race, but could you simply change the Actual Start Date/Time in the edit race screen on the split computer since that split station is finished or would that be a bad idea?