At last, “running/runner’s chips” are here in the country! I just read an article in one of the daily newspapers  about the conduct of the “New Balance Power Race 2007: The Next Level” held last 11 November 2007 at Clark Freeport where RFID Timing Technology or popularly known as “runner’s chips” were used by the runners.

These are three famous systems in the market today on RFID Timing Technology: “ChampionChip”; “Winning Time USA” & “AMB”. 

This “chip” initiates the start of the runners’ time from the start line and registers the lapsed time once a runner passes through the finish line. The start & finish lines are equipped with antenna/transponder which is covered by a mat/rubber carpet. The antenna/transponder activates the “runner’s chip” once it passes through the mat/carpet. It is imperative that each runner should not pass the start line before the firing of the gun! This will discourage runners from “cheating” at the start line or along the route as more transponders could be placed to measure time splits every 10 kms/miles.

Shown below are the pictures I’ve taken with my runner’s chip I used in the Inaugural City of Angels Half-Marathon last 03 December 2006. This chip is from ChampionChip!

I hope to see these “runner’s chips” in all the local road races and marathon races in Metro Manila/Subic/Clark soon!