Using and Dissecting the Timing Chip

Dear Cristine,

First, in behalf of all the male runners, I congratulate you for finishing your 3K run last week at the Run for Home.  We are really happy that you were able to join us.  Unfortunately, I haven’t seen you since I did a 21K but I saw  you from the pictures by Photovendo.

You don’t know me but I am once a TV personality as well.  (As in one time lang talaga.  Hihihi…).  I am one of your avid fans and I even have a copy of the men’s magazine with you at the cover.  I have watched Eva Fonda and really admired your acting.

During the Run for Home, I noticed that you were not able to use your timing chip properly.  It was still pinned on your race bib.  As a result, your start and finish times were not recorded.  I really would like to see your race results so that I can personally provide you with some pointers on how to improve your running.  (Example, your arms are swinging too high in front of your body.)  But since this is the first time that a race used the Champion Chip, many runners also made the same mistake.

Allow me to show you and the other runners how to use the timing chip correctly.

Two things to remember my dear Cristine.  (1) The timing chip must be securely placed and (2), it must be placed as near to the ground as possible.  The best place is your shoe.  I can’t think of another place but we both can explore some ideas.

One way to secure the timing chip is by tying it to the shoelace before you make the loop.  It will be more secured than tying it up after the loop since it wont easily fall off when the tie gets loose while running.

Another simplier way is to slip it under the shoelaces like a paper clip.  It’s not as secured as tying it up but this works most of the time.  This is easier to attach and be removed.

If the pictures or my descriptions still doesn’t sound clear, feel free to send me an email with your contact number.  I can free up my time so that we can meet and I can show you how to use the chip.  The same timing chip will be used again during the Kenny Roger’s Urbanite on August 15.  Of course, the Urbanite will be using a new set of chips since the Run for Home chips are for one time use only.  I suggest you contact me before the race or contact me before Quennie reads this post.

Cristine, I hope you continue to have good projects and more success in your showbiz career so that I’d see you more often in TV or in print.  But most of all, I hope to see you more often at the races and be part of this addicting lifestyle.

Adik sa yo,

Jinoe

P.S.

Let me get techie by showing you what’s inside the timing chip.  I’m an electronics engineer and I love opening things up to see what is inside.  This is just my theoretical analysis of how the chip works based on my studies in school.  I could be wrong.  Damn, my electromagnetic class was already 8 years ago.

Inside the timing chip is just a loop of coil and a small printed circuit board (PCB).  The PCB probably contains a small memory unit that contains the unique ID for the runners as well as a transponder that sends out this unique number.

The coil provides the electricity or power to the PCB.  The coil is powered only when it passes thru a magnetic field.  The mat placed in the races provides this field.  Thus, when you pass thru the mat, the coil cuts the magnetic flux there, and in return the coil generates a small current to power up the chip.

The PCB then activates itself and instantly sends its unique identification number thru its transponder.  There is an antenna placed on the mat that receives this number and will record your time the moment you pass by.

This happens in a very small fraction of a second.  So you don’t need to stay long on the mat.  Just run pass it and you’re ok.

Notice also that the mat plays an important role here.  That is why the chip must be placed as close to the mat as possible.  If the timing chip is placed too high in the body, the magnetic field cannot reach it to activate the chip.  For this reason, the shoe is the perfect location for the chip.