If you’ve ever wondered what’s happening behind the finish line after you cross, here’s a little peek behind the curtain: timing equipment is buzzing, volunteers are double-checking bibs, data is syncing, and your results are sliding into place. It’s a well-oiled machine… most of the time. And sometimes, like all good machines, it hiccups.
That’s why we encourage every runner to “look before you leave.” Think of it as your final cool-down step. Stop by the results kiosk or pull up the event page on your phone. Find your name, and check that your age, gender, division, and time all look right. Ask yourself: Does that time feel close to what I ran? Did I run the distance that’s showing?
Here’s why it matters: maybe you switched from the 10K to the 5K mid-race. No big deal, right? But if the system still has you listed as a 10K finisher, that 5K time of yours could accidentally post as a first-place overall 10K win. Meanwhile, you’re at home, showered and happily munching on a breakfast taco — while we’re still at the race fielding questions about whether someone really just “crushed” a 39-minute 10K.
Get it checked before the awards because nobody wants to be that person who interrupts the awards ceremony to say the results are wrong. Awards should be a celebration — cheers, medals, and maybe a few happy tears — not confusion over spreadsheets.
So, for everyone’s sake (including yours): look before you leave. Double-check your results while the challenge window is open, before the awards ceremony begins. That way, we can all celebrate together with smiles and no surprises
And hey — you can even practice this mantra at your next event! 🎉 Find your next race at athleteguild.com and don’t miss our upcoming Das Dreizehn.Eins Half and 5K on January 25, 2026 → athleteguild.com/das
