Blogs

How Does It All Work?

Have you ever stopped to consider how chip timing actually works?  We get a lot of questions from runners and race directors alike regarding the technology and how it works.  For most, it just seems to work and they never really give it much though.  As a timer though, we have to spend a lot of time thinking about the technology and how to best deploy it.  The interesting thing is that many timers are in the same position as you.  They know how to set it up and capture times, but they don't really understand the technology behind it.  If you were to ask the

Preparing for Cold Weather Running - 6 Ways to Suffer Less

There’s no doubt about it, winter is on its way here - but that doesn’t have to mean the end or even slowing of your outdoor training! Check out these cold-weather tips to stay comfortable and competitive all year long. 

5 Reasons to Love Fall Running

Fall is a fan-favorite season for many reasons. Cold fronts bring stunning foliage changes, sweaters leave storage, harvest festivals multiply weekly, and an almost permanent scent of pumpkin spice hangs in the air. 

But cool nights and limited-edition lattes aren’t the only great thing about fall — it’s also the undisputed best season for running, and we have the fast facts to back it up! 

1. Fantastic Foliage: 

Ready, Set, Snack: 6 Easy Homemade Energy Bars

Not many things are better than snacks. 

Unexpected pocket cash, cute cat videos, and a good run all come close, but arguably none can triumph over treats. So preheat your oven, strap on an apron, and check out our favorite healthy and simple 5-star energy bars to restock your pantry!

 

1. No-Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars

6 Hot-Weather Hacks

It’s hot, heatwaves are rising from the pavement, humidity is off the charts, and you’re running. 

Why are you running? 

You may wonder this, mid-footfall, wading through the atmospheric soup of summer, but frankly it’s the wrong question. The right question is “How can I run better … or at least less miserably in this heat?” The answer? Our Hot Weather Running Hacks below! 

1. Be Patient: 

Packet Pickup Best Practice

One of the biggest questions we get from new race directors is how to handle packet pickup.  If you have done multiple races, then you probably have a preferred method to handle packet pickup.  The way that it is handled can vary from race to race and depends on several factors; number of volunteers available, number of participants, time available for pickup, technology.  The goal of course is to move the pickup line as quickly as possible so that there is no delay in starting the event.

7 Tips to Surviving Your First Marathon

You’ve made it! You put in the time and training for your first marathon and the day is finally here. But before the adrenaline-fueled start, take a moment to review these quick tips to ensure that the big event is a fun first instead of a stressful last.

1. Limit Mental Fatigue

The 7 Best Carbs for Fuel

There once were three bears that lived in the woods. They loved porridge — a complex carb — but apparently weren’t very good at making it. 

How does this story end? In tragedy, with two bowls of porridge gone to waste and Goldilocks running for her life on an assumedly over-full stomach. Terrible. With a little foresight this crisis could have easily been averted, which is exactly why we’re here.

Low-Mo Days: Breaking Through Mental Training Barriers

We feel great when we run, not many things beat that natural high. So why on some days does our motivation dissipate as soon as we look at our running shoes, or before? 

Every runner comes up against mental walls. They pop up when we least expect it, and usually when it’s the most inconvenient. So what can we do? How do we push past the siren song of comfy bed covers or the TV (or chores) calling?

1. Plan Ahead

Registration Fees

When you are setting up your event and working with a timer, do you give any consideration to the registration fees that your participants are paying?  If not, then you should.  Those registration fees can have an impact on your participation as it raises the cost of the overall registration cost.  When participants are looking at registering for your event, if the additional fees that they pay are too high, then many will simply back out and either decide to wait or not attend at all.