1st race tip? (Read 5779 times)

Great post JK! An instant classic! I am also running in my first race tomorrow (a 5K). I've got a real stupid question regarding finish times. How does timing work if chips are not used? Is there a guy with a clock and clipboard at the finish line, noting the time each runner crosses the finish line? Or am I supposed to time myself, and then report it? Also, when you get your race number, do they give you pins to attach it to your shirt? Or do I have to bring my own pins? Or does it stick-on somehow?

RE: Timing - in the races I've run without chip timing you're given a numbered card as you cross the finish line. You fill out the card with your name, gender, and age group and drop it in the appropriate labed box. Somehow, this card is matched up with your time (I don't know how that part works, though). RE: Bibs - when I've gotten my bibs, they've all come with pins, but if you're picking up your bib on race day, better safe than sorry - bring a couple of pins with you. That way you know you're all set and you have one less thing to worry about.

Thanks for the tips!!!

Courtney, hope you had a great first race! Tell us how it was!

Glad you all enjoyed the babbles. You might want to add your own race tips (even some more serious ones) and have somebody pin them up. In fact, we ought to start pinning up a lot of the threads that have commonly asked info in them. Now to echo what RunChic just said - did we ever get a race report? Or did Courtney, in fact, end up getting hit by something heavy and sharp? Boy. That would be kinda ironic, huh? Oh, Scout - here's Air Supply's latest song. Unfortunately I couldn't find the video to "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" --- but this one's even worse better. They still sound exactly like they did in 1986, the last time I subjected my ears to their schmaltz. Enjoy! (Don't blame me if you claw your ears out, or get so depressed you jump in front of a bus): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SV4yFU5HjY

I have never been happier that streaming media is blocked at work......

I have never been happier that streaming media is blocked at work......

I wish mine had been blocked. That was terrible. Well, the first 20 seconds, anyway until I had to turn it off so it wouldn't ruin my day.

Here’s a long and exhaustive (but not complete) list of some of the important stuff nobody ever told me (and that I later wished they had), in completely random order, provided for absolutely no reason at all:

JK, this is WAY too funny! And even funnier, very useful!!! What a great post.

22: If you take your cell phone with you on the race, people like me will be laughing at you. If you actually answer it, expect more of those sharp and heavy but weakly thrown object to come flying in your direction. (One exception: if you happen to be the race director of the race in which you’re currently running. Otherwise, you’re just an uber-dork who needs to have a cellphoneectomy). PAM!!!!!!

Pam has uber-abs - that gives her a free pass to carry a cell phone if she wants

Yah. She can break girly-men in half - just by flexing her abs.