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Finish Line Etiquette

Please help us get accurate results for our races!
Ever wonder how we collect the finish times for runners? Here's a description of the process:

A volunteer sits beside the race clock and records the finish time on a timing machine for each person who enters the chute. Sometimes race numbers are obscured by clothing, pinned on the runner's back, or hidden in a pocket. So, the timer must assume that everyone who enters the chute is a registered runner. Therefore, a time is recorded for EVERYONE who enters the chute, whether there is a visible race number or not.

Another volunteer at the end of the chute collects the tear-strips from the race numbers. Hopefully, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the times recorded and the tear-strips collected. If the timing machine has recorded 200 times, then there should be 200 matching tear-strips. At this point, it should be easy for the computer to match up the times with the tear-strips, right?

Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work this way. There are several things that runners do that can mess up the results. Sometimes runners enter the chute with no number, or have a number but go through the chute twice. Some runners enter the chute and get their time recorded, then duck out of the chute before turning in the tear-strip. And sometimes runners pass other runners in the chute. This is why we usually station a volunteer to remind runners to stay in order in the chute.

What can you do to help?

  • If you aren't a registered runner, don't enter the chute.

  • If you are registered, pin your number to the front of your clothing where it is easily accessible. Pinning it to the back means you'll have to find someone else to remove the tear-strip, which slows down the collection process and may cause runners to back up in the finish chute. We need to keep runners moving through the chute as rapidly as possible.

  • If a friend or family member jumps in to run the last part of a race with you and doesn't have a number, ask that person to avoid entering the chute.

  • If your child accidentally enters the chute with you and isn't a registered runner, do not let the child duck out of the chute. Instead, alert the volunteer who is collecting the tear-strips. The volunteer can then place a "bandit" tear-strip on the spool to act as a place-holder when matching up the times.

  • If you finish a race and go back on the course to run with a slower friend, please don't go through the chute a second time.

    What are the finish cards for?
    The cards are our backup system in case of computer malfunction, and also help in getting the awards handed out quickly. The cards have numbers printed on them which allow us to quickly sort by order of finish. This speeds up the awards ceremony, because we no longer have to wait for race-day registrants to be entered into the computer. Please fill out the card and return it as soon as possible after finishing a race. If you don't turn in the card, someone else could end up with your trophy!