A line erased

Chip timing has made race management a much easier task. And, in races with heavy participation, everyone appreciates their finishing time reflecting actual running time without the added minutes spent waiting to cross the starting line. But those chips didn’t just replace the old scoring tear-offs on the bottom of race number bibs. For the non-seeded runner, gone too is the truly competitive sprint to the finish line. You see, in the old days when you were neck and neck with someone as the two of you approached the finish line, it really was a race. First one to the line was truly beating the other and the proof would show up in the final results. Today, depending on the length of the race, there could be 10 to 15 minutes difference between two runners finishing side-by-side. Sure, you’ll still see people race each other to the line, but – whether they know it or not – it’s almost never for place. Of course, we always have been (and always will be) racing the clock. I just miss the days when we raced the stranger beside us, too.