Low budget race timing
Jay
If I wanted to put on a low-budget, low-frills race, what would you
suggest I do for timing the race? Size would probably not exceed the
low hundreds. Traditional timing services would probably exceed my
budget. Are there other options?
Jay
Mike St Laurent
Option A -wicked old school Popcicle sticks with numbers on them
Everyone gets a popcicle stick as they finish in chronological order.
Someone is reading off times as each person finishes - then the times are correlated to the people
(everyone has to go to a table and tell their name to a scorer who then inputs the place to the name)
Option B: Tear off tag - Use bib numbers with tear off tags.
Tape the tags to a chart, with the time attached..
Option C:
Check with a local club that has a ticker tape machine and clock
they often do races quite reasonably...
Mike out.
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Mike St. Laurent
LOCO Sports, Inc.
603 659 2824
Todd Hanson
I typically run in a small town 5 miler up in Center Harbor, NH each 4th of July. It has always been a “popcicle stick” race which for some reason I found it to be part of the charm. Last year they got a new race director and I felt disappointed to be handed a bib number when I checked in. The low key, low tech, small town event was unique and memorable. I knew this wasn’t Cigna and the expectations where set appropriately. One water (no sports drink) stop, card board signs at roughly each mile, no bibs, lots of hills and hot weather but good crowd support at the finish line. Not sure if you started a new race with that approach, people would feel the same way but I think it’s all about managing expectations.
Letting people know what to expect and then charging a entry fee that equals the product is the key. I’d be drawn to a nice little, low budget, low tech 5K for say $15 over a crowded $25 one even with long sleeve tees or tech shirts and timing mats.
Todd