Can you say RFID?

Step with Mr. Peabody, his boy Sherman and me once again into the Wayback machine for a visit to running history. The first running competition was probably by accident between two men outrunning a dinosaur trying to eat them. And it probably wasn’t too much later that teenage boys began racing each other as one dared the other to slap the backside of a T-Rex then “run for it” (laughing all the way back to their cave). Running competitions in recorded history date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland in 1829 BC, and the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.

Now take the Wayback forward to the early part of the 20th century. Running had become a gentlemen’s sport. Rules became an increasingly important part of the game, racers trained for specific events and expected organizers to be more, well …organized. Enter time keepers, starting guns, numbers on jerseys identifying athletes, finish line tapes, photo finishes, and record books. Athletes began wondering how to best capture and standardize the athletic performance. Stop watches, certified and standardized running distances, etc. all became part of the game.

In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s running hadn’t changed a whole lot. Technically things improved, running tracks, timing abilities, etc. (oey! If they can send a man to the moon…) Yet, as more runners entered races, capturing times (not just Olympics) became more and more important. A runner registered for a race, had his name written down and a bib number assigned and handed to him (or her) to wear. Computer tracking eventually became an essential part of the event (and an evolving business). On TV, the Wide World of Sports even devoted segments to scientific methods of timing. In the 80’s, hundreds, if not thousands of runners entered events. As you approached the finish line you were encouraged, forced, nay... herded into finishing chutes that funneled runners into single person lanes. As you cross the finish line, someone with a device attached to a computer clicked your finish time (a time stamp) into a computer of the order finished, unassociated with who crossed the line. Multiple finishing chutes; multiple computers.

This was a great improvement and the best that could be done at the time. As you finished you were herded into the chutes (yes, you did hear an occasional ‘mooing’ along the way) where your order of finish was determined. If you finished with great effort and right behind you someone else finished but stepped in front of you as you entered the chute, your time was given to the interloper... and you got his (or hers, “after you; oh no, I insist!”). The bottom of your numbered race bib was torn off and put onto a stringer in the order you finished. There was no ability for individual timings. Your race time was from when the gun sounded until you crossed the finish line. In a race such as the SJ Mercury News 10K, there were 10 – 15,000 runners. It might take 5 (or more) minutes to cross the Starting Line. You timed it yourself and often subtracted time “until I crossed the starting line” when exchanging bragging rights with fellow runners.

In the 70’s, I was employed with Memorex (then one of the big names of pre-personal computing Silicon Valley) and was involved with their employee activity group (MAG). We decided to run a 10k (6 miles) for employees and their families and I called on some techy friends to help with the timing. We purchased numbered bibs (w/ tear off bottom), trophies and a friend put together a rudimentary finish line timer using an Apple IIe. We held our run at West Valley College in Saratoga, and had approx. 200 registered runners. Twice around the perimeter road we ran, finishing in a (one) chute in front of the Admin. Building. Luckily, the winners were easily determined and no one came in close to each other. We compiled our finishers’ timing list for publication and counted our blessings that the timers worked without hiccup.

Now take a quantum leap forward to 2008 and the use of passive RFID (just say the letters individually like you know what you’re talking about) transponders. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Have you ever thought about those little metallic ID strips in new DVD’s, CD’s, books and clothing that activate the door buzzers unless deactivated by a sales clerk at checkout? That’s the same principle I’m talking about! Each runner is now given a chip or tag with the runner’s unique identification number (bib number). The chip / strip / tag (called a transponder) is inactive until moved into a magnetic field generated by a sending antenna in a mat or stand (see picture above of blue and red mat ). The transponder (strip) then transmits its unique identification number to a receiving antenna in a stand or mat whose software creates a time stamp of when the strip passed by. Although a RFID tag might transmit its number several times while the athlete is crossing the mat, software is used to eliminate all but the first time recorded for each chip at each timing point. Very cool technology.

Over the past several years I’ve experienced two different RFID tags. The first from ChampionChip, an early leader in the field. They created a hard, enclosed waterproof capsule containing the chip and energizing coil. Race organizers rented them from the race timing company and assigned one per entrant. Following the race staff helped remove the tags from runners’ shoes, and if not returned, runners were charged $25 – 30 per tag lost.

Then came along D-Tags (see picture at left) which are disposable transponders. The runner gets it with his bib number and easily attaches it to his shoe with attached removable tape. These tags need not be returned and are very efficient. Now runners can have their cake and eat it too ….errr… have their gun time and chip time too. Runners get the full elapse time from when the gun fires and their personal time from when they cross the RFID mat at the beginning and end of the race. Some distance races are now also including a RFID mat mid way through the course to provide both a split time (how fast the runner ran each half of the race) and insure that runners don’t take short cuts along the route. To complete the run they must cross a) the Starting Line mat, b) a midway mat and c) the Finish Line mat to prove they ran the full course. Races are even now offering automatic text messages as well to be sent to cell phones of spectators and runners alike when a runner crosses the midway mat. How excellently far we’ve come!

- John B

I am grateful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets
I am grateful for running at 56
I am grateful for serving at church
I am grateful for walks with Janet
I am grateful for backpacking with friends