Who is the official timing company of the SaskCentral Queen City Marathon?
Specializing in sports event timing and results processing at race events across Canada, Race Headquarters is the official timing company of the SaskCentral Queen City Marathon. Accepted world-wide as the gold standard of electronic timing systems, the ChampionChip timing system is used for all our SaskCentral QCM events.
What the heck is a timing chip and what do I do with it?
A timing chip is a small, lightweight device about the size of a quarter, which you attach to your shoelace.
Think of the timing chip as your own, personal stopwatch. It starts working the moment you cross the timing mats at the starting line and stops the moment your cross the timing mats at the finish line.
Depending on where you are in the starting pack of participants, it might take you a couple of minutes to actually cross the starting line once the announcer says: “Go!”, but that doesn't matter. Your personal stopwatch only starts when YOU cross the starting line and stops when YOU cross the finish line. Then the timing computers accurately calculate and record your personal time results.
This time is called “Chip Time” or “Net Time” or “Real Time”. The other kind of race time is called “Gun Time” or "Official Time" .
Can you explain Chip Time versus Gun Time?
Gun Time is the time from the sound of the starter's signal (traditionally a gun, but it can be a horn or just someone shouting “Go!”) to the time when the runner crosses the finish line. This is also known as the Official Time.
Chip Time (sometimes called Net Time) is the time from when the runner crosses the starting mats at the start line, to the time when the runner crosses the finishing mats at the finish line. Depending on how long it took you to cross the starting line at the beginning of the race, your final Chip/Net time result will likely be different from the time on the finish line clock.
NOTE: The clocks at the finish line and on the course are running on unofficial Gun Time.
What time do you use to calculate the overall and age-category awards?
In accordance with International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) rulings, all overall awards are based on the official GUN TIME — the time from the start of the race (gun or “go!”) to when you cross the finish line. The SaskCentral QCM chooses to base all age-category awards on NET/CHIP TIME, the time from when your individual ChampionChip crosses the starting line until it crosses the finish line.
Can my Net/Chip time be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon?
Yes, your Net/Chip time is acceptable for Boston qualification. The SaskCentral QCM course is officially measured and certified by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races) and is officially recognized by Athletics Canada. Participants who run the Full Marathon within a certain time for their age can qualify to run in the prestigious Boston Marathon.
Our course certification code is SK-2008-028-BDC. For more information about qualifying for the Boston Marathon, please log on to: www.bostonmarathon.org.
How do I wear the Chip?
Included in your race package will be a short plastic “zip strip” to attach the chip to your shoelaces. Use the plastic “zip strip” to attach the chip to the bottom portion of your shoelaces (see photos).
NOTE: It is important to have the long “tube” part of the chip pointing toward your toe, as shown in the photo.
Thread the zip strip through the chip and around your shoelaces, and then pull the strip through itself to form a loop. NOTE: when you pull the zip strip through itself, there are little ridges along one side that make it grip itself. If you pull the zip strip through “inside out”, those little ridges will not grip and the zip strip will come undone.
REMEMBER: NO CHIP - NO TIME. REPEAT AFTER ME: : NO CHIP – NO TIME.
Couldn’t I just thread my actual shoelace through the timing chip?
Yes, you certainly could tie the chip into your shoelaces, but using the zip strip makes it easier for the finish line crew to remove the chip when you finish. If you tie the chip into your shoelaces you will either have to unlace your shoe when you finish to free the chip, or have your laces cut.
How are the Bellamy Kia Relay Teams timed?
Like the other SaskCentral QCM events, the Bellamy Kia Relay event will be timed using the ChampionChip timing chip. Each team will be provided with one (and only one) chip attached to a Velcro ankle band (see photo).
Teams must pass their timing chip as the "relay baton" and the timing chip must be worn on the ankle when crossing any timing mats or no official time will be recorded. This includes timing mats at the start, finish, halfway point or anywhere else along the course.
Teams are strongly encouraged to make their relay exchanges at the designated Bellamy Kia Relay Exchange Zones.
The easiest way to do this is to have the runner doing the next relay leg bend down and remove the chip from the runner who just finished. Then the new runner puts the Velcro strap around his/her ankle and heads out.
How does the Chip work? 
The send and receive antennas for the ChampionChips are embedded in the orange timing mats on the road.
These antenna mats are placed at the starting line, finish line and other timing locations along the course. The mats are connected to a Yellow Box at the side of the road, containing electronics and batteries. Each time a participant wearing a ChampionChip crosses the mats, the chip gets energized and sends out its own special ID-number. This number and corresponding time are then stored in the Yellow Box and transferred to a timing computer for further processing.
All runners must ensure they run across the orange mats at the beginning and finish of the race.
AT THE END OF THE RUN – NO MATTER HOW TIRED YOU ARE – CONTINUE TO RUN ACROSS ALL THE TIMING MATS. DON’T STOP UNTIL YOU GET HIT WITH A MEDAL.
What happens if I lose my timing chip out on the course?
Ah, this is a regrettable occurrence, since it means that you will not be able to receive an official time. Thankfully, this does not happen too often, and can usually be prevented by attaching the chip to your shoe well ahead of time and testing to make sure that it will not come loose. However, if you do lose your timing chip out on the course, there is not much that can be done, but don't give up hope.
Hopefully, a good Samaritan runner or walker will see your chip laying on the road and will bring it to the finish line for you, handing it over to the Race Headquarters timing personnel so you won’t be charged for a missing chip.
VERY IMPORTANT: When you cross the finish line, take note of the time on the finish line clock. Then, after you get your medal, immediately ask to speak to one of the Race Headquarters timing personnel at the finish line and explain the situation. We cannot guarantee it, but we will try to give you an un-official time, based on Gun Time.
What happens if I find a chip on the street?
Please, do another participant a big favor and carry it with you to the finish. Then give it to one of the Race Headquarters personnel at the finish line. DO NOT SWIPE IT ACROSS THE TIMING MATS, as that will give the other participant an incorrect finishing time.
What happens if I can't take part in the race or forget to hand my timing chip in after the race? How do I get it back to you?
When you receive your ChampionChip timing chip with your race package, the SaskCentral QCM and Race Headquarters are loaning it to you for the duration of the race. We do not charge you a deposit in advance for the safe return of the chip. However, all unreturned chips are the responsibility of the participant. A $40.00 charge will be administered for unreturned chips.
If you live in or near Regina, you can drop off your timing chip at the Regina Running Room store, located at 2113 Albert Street at the corner of Albert Street and 13th Avenue. Please put the chip in an envelope and mark the envelope "Attention: SaskCentral QCM" along with your name, race event and race bib number so that we know which chip is being returned.
If you are unable to return the timing chip to the Regina Running Room store, put the ChampionChip in a padded envelope (that's important) along with a note listing your name, address, phone number, email address and SaskCentral QCM race bib number (that's important, too). On the padded envelope, write "Hand Sort", and mail it ASAP to:
Race Headquarters
12505 Izon Court
Maple Ridge, B.C.
V2X 9W6
I own my own ChampionChip timing chip. Can I use it?
Certainly. Just bring your chip to race package pickup on the Thursday, Friday or Saturday before the race and ask to speak with the Race Headquarters representative. They will be happy to arrange for you to use your own chip. When you reach the finish line, please politely inform the chip-removal volunteers that the chip belongs to you, as they’re pretty eager with those clippers and and they may try to remove it.
Do I get a discount if I use my own ChampionChip timing chip?
Unfortunately, there are no registration discounts for using your own chip.
Where and when can I see my race results?
CLICK HERE to learn more about race results and race certificates.
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