Well I ran the Fradley 10k last sunday, this is a well attended race with well over 600 runners over a 2 lap flat rural setting, timing chips in number this as opposed to last year which was on the shoe.

It seems the timings posted by the organiser are all over the place, of which I have emailed them expressing my concern.

The situation is that my Garmin recorded a finish time of 41:28, now I started it at gun and it took me around 8 seconds to cross the start mat, I stopped the Garmin as I crossed the finish mat so taking that into account my chip time was around 41:21 which is what was posted by the organiser KP Events on Monday.

Stuweb which I think is the organisation who actually run the timing element put me down as 41:05 chip time with 41:15 gun time, Although I would like to have done that time I am concerned that it would not have been a difference of 23 seconds on chip v garmin. Additional to that I glanced at the pace car parked at the finish and as I was coming up 20m to the finish the pace car clock was showing 41:17.

It's a bit of a shame that this is mixed up as KP Events firstly put up what they thought was incorrect timings which I think were more accurate than the current ones that KP now link to Stuweb, also to add insult to injury the race didn't have a UKA licence which was not the case in last years event so my time which is a 10k PB anyway will not be recorded in the performance rankings.

Derek

Nice run, fair rant - shame about the timings. Sounds like a re-run of the Goring 10k I did a couple of weeks ago.

Official time was 2 mins faster than my Garmin and I know which one I trust and it wasn't the paper loop thingy that we had to thread though our laces with the chip pointing straight up to the sky. No, there was no overhead sensor - just the usual mat to run across.

Anyway, it was not exactly the Olympics and the fee goes to the local primary school so I actually feel sorry for the Race Director who had to apologise to all runners for a faulty timing system that he unwittingly bought in for the occasion.  

Mike, the chip is the same whether it's mounted in a sticky paper loop, a plastic card or around your ankle - it doesn't need to 'point' at anything, any more than your Garmin has to point at a satellite! It only has to be within range as you cross the mats (so not around your neck).

Stu-Web are usually really good in my experience, but errors happen. Hopefully they'll sort it out in the end! Get as many people as you can to email in with their own times - it'll help them to cross-check.

Looking at their site, it appears they believe some runners missed the short loop at the end, but it also looks as though they think it's sorted. It might be worth making a 'comment' on their site at http://www.stuweb.co.uk/swp/.

Hope that helps!

Thanks Dave, I did email them with the detailed explanation but it's gone and past now. If the posted chip time of 41:05 was correct watch out next week Dave, I'm turning up at Cannon Hill Park, fuelled to the 'gunoles' with beetroot juice and ready to go sub 20 and beyond, barring an extra layer of goose poop.

Also just come back from Dr Pain who worked on my tight hamstring and achiles on my right leg so I'll be firing on all cylinders.

9am a bit of an early start but I should be there if I can squeeze the little Smart car into the MAC car park.

Hi Derek,
Stafford Half this morning - wasn't expecting too much as I had three days hill-walking & 'wild camping' in the Peak District Wed to Fri, then was on my feet all day Saturday (including timing at parkrun, a bit of shopping, then Moseley v Bees & Ireland v England, with a few beers, and finally a friend's birthday party). My thigh muscles were really tight and within 2 or 3 miles I was thinking I might not even finish, but improved as the race progressed and posted 1:39:01 - within a second of my own watch time, and less than 3 mins off a PB!
In pain again now, and six days shouldn't be enough to recover from a HM, but I'll give it a go!
I'd suggest you try the Russell Road car park - nearer to the start/finish and usually enough space as most seem to turn up at about 8:50!

Thanks Dave I'll try Russell Road, Just had a look at my diary and on Friday night we have the club presentations so if I look a bit worse for wear on Saturday then you know what it will be, not making excuses in advance of course.

I'll be the one in the Tamworth AC club shirt, the green will probably match my complexion and be wearing a party hat.