Race Day Nutrition

I ran in a Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving 2008 and experienced RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) race timing for the first time.  I think it’s a good use of the technology, but I’m a little conflicted.

The alternatives are hand held stopwatches or spotters watching a big clock; both not good when you have 5000+ people competing in a race.  Then you have the Velcro ankle straps with transponders.  This is a pretty good option, but it requires volunteers to dispense the transponders and to make sure everyone returns them after a race.  Plus, there’s always the issue of light-headed athletes toppling over as they attempt to remove the straps.  Now, with RFID race timing, you get very accurate timing and no one needs to collect the chips.  What’s really cool is that the adhesive strap with the embedded RFID comes attached to the back of your race number.  Volunteers can hand you a number with the timing device all at once.  You pull the strap off the race number, attach it to your shoelaces, and forget about it.  The computers and sensors do the rest of the work.  You can even “forget” to return your timing device because it’s disposable.

Ah, but therein lies my conflict.  These devices are disposable.  Cool for race logistics, but uncool for the environment.  Most ankle transponders find their way back to a contract timing company for the next race.  All RFID straps go in the garbage.

As I prepare for the Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon this Sunday, January 25, I note that this event will use ChronoTrack RFID race timing devices.  According to the race instructions, event organizers have gone to great lengths to minimize the race’s impact on the environment.  There is a retired shoe drive in its 18th year.   Representatives from Keep California Beautiful will be encouraging participants with their “Only your feet hit the ground” campaign.  And Dinner Studio is sponsoring clothing donation stations the course.  The stations are strategically placed collection bins for runners to shed unwanted clothing as they heat up during the race.  Apparently so many shirts, gloves, hats, and maybe even pants, are discarded each year at the Carlsbad Marathon and Half, that it has become a nuisance.  Volunteers will donate the clothing from the collection bins to local shelters (presumably after washing.)

Missing from the extensive presence of environmentally friendly race practices, is what to do with the used RFID timing devices.  ChronoTrack advertises that the devices are disposable, but doesn’t suggest any recycling options.  There is a strip of metal and a little chip in each RFID device.  I asked ChronoTrack if the RFID timing industry is considering any ways to make the technology more environmentally friendly.  Perhaps they could use biodegradable plastic housing, metal that can be reclaimed, or a chip that can be reused.  I will post any helpful insight they might reply with.

By the way, organizers of the Turkey Trot I competed in promised online results by 3:00pm the same day.  They were.  The RFID system delivered.  Amazing!

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