News

ChronoTrack Systems, the industry leader in timing for long distance running events is pleased to announce a renewed partnership for 2011 Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon to be held June 26, 2011. With competitors from more than forty five countries participating and boasting the country’s largest marathon field, The Kuala Lumpur Marathon is one of the premier marathons in Malaysia. In its third year, this marathon offers one of the highest prize packages for marathon competitors in Malaysia, with a total of $100,000 dollars being awarded to the competitors.

ChronoTrack certified timing partner, CG Lim, and his company HIVELOCITY will serve as the official race timer for the event held in Kuala Lumpur. The course centers around Dataran Merdeka, the historical square where the Malayan flag was raised to announce their independence in the mid 1900’s. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon has become a competitor favorite because of their attention to detail and focus on the runner experience.

With anticipation of a large crowd, project director, Mr. Rainer Beimans from Golazo Sdn Bhd is confident with ChronoTrack on board: “We are aiming for 25,000 runners this year, almost 20,000 are running against the clock. Therefore we need to make sure, that the timing company is reliable, efficient and fits to the team. With ChronoTrack we had a good experience last year. Never change a winning team and ChronoTrack is part of it.”

Excitement continues to build for the event, with just a couple of months remaining before runners from around the world flock to Kuala Lumpur to start their race journey!

Many events around the U.S. are trying to find a unique twist to attract competitors. Not many events could be as unique as Sandmine Challenge held in Crystal City, Missouri. The race committee of the event has developed a new terminology for runners with the introduction of “SpeRUNking” a combination of running and spelunking. This competition offers racers the opportunity to compete on a 3.5 mile course through a sand mine, dealing with dark conditions and a lake. Based on the encouragement of the race staff, competitors adorned headlamps to help them traverse the course. “We absolutely love hearing about our timers testing the limits of our system in a new race environment such as this” stated Dan Howell ChronoTrack Systems President and CEO.

The mine, stretching over 200 acres of land, contains numerous interconnecting shafts that allow for a 3.5 mile course without looping. The course did require two way traffic a few times but was plenty wide not to hinder the forward progress of competitors. In addition to hosting running events, the mine serves as a venue for small concerts, sand volleyball events and even provides a location for the local pole vault club to practice.

As if the conditions already presented to the race were not enough, the race directors set up an obstacle course including; a wall to jump, nets to crawl under, hurdles to leap, rock walls to climb through and sand dunes galore. When the additional obstacles were added to the unpacked sand floor the competitors were in for a true test of grit and fitness.

ChronoTrack Systems Certified Timing Partner, Big River Race Management was hired to bring the ChronoTrack B-Tag to the sand mine. The response of the B-Tag was a resounding success, as runners throughout the state were elated by its ease of use. The runners loved the challenges on the course and were pleased with the post race after party that featured great food and drinks for all. More than six hundred competitors completed the challenge in waves to ensure that each had an opportunity to make the most of their race through the course. “The Sandmine Challenge was the most unique event I have ever been associated with. The race was an absolutely huge success and we are looking forward to having a climate controlled race on our calendar every February for years to come” stated Pat Hamel Director of Race Management for Big River Race Management.

If you are in the market for a unique racing opportunity to add to your running resume, consider the Sandmine Challenge in Crystal City, Missouri in 2012!

Big River Race Management is a locally owned and operated event management company located in St. Louis, Missouri. Big River times and manages over 100 events a year ranging from 150 to 13,000 participants. With over 30 years of experience in the race management industry, Big River is known within the Midwest as one of the premier race management companies and proudly utilizes the Chronotrack System for their timing services.

Photo Credit to Dan Singer

ChronoTrack Systems, the industry leader in timing for long distance running events is pleased to announce the addition of the Crescent City Classic to the schedule for 2011. The Crescent City Classic hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of the largest 10k road races in the United States annually with over 17,000 people competing in the race in 2010. Bringing competitors from all around the country to compete on the Jazz filled streets of New Orleans is something the Crescent City Fitness Foundation takes great pride in.

The 2011 event is scheduled to take place on Saturday April 23, at 8:30 a.m. The race weekend has a variety of events for all the competitors to enjoy beginning on Friday morning at packet pickup. ChronoTrack Certified Timer Mike Hutchison and his company No Limits Timing of Shreveport, Louisiana are excited to stay in their home state and time such a prestigious event. “The Crescent City Classic is one of the premier events in the country, boasting a very distinguished elite field and a phenomenal race environment for fans and competitors. The race committee chose ChronoTrack as the official timing system for the prestigious event and feels so confident in the technology’s ability to provide a time for the entire field for the first time in event history” stated Mike Hutchison.

Ranked as one of the largest 10k’s in the United States by Running USA, the Crescent City Classic continues to see world class fields and great participant numbers every year. The 2011 edition marks the 33rd year the streets of New Orleans will be filled with competitors from around the world. The 2011 race will also be in remembrance of Rick Lusky Race Director of the Crescent Classic, who passed away unexpectedly last month.

For more detailed information about the Crescent City Classic, please visit the race website at www.ccc10k.com and mark your calendars for the event coming up next month in New Orleans.

On a cold dark night in the middle of February, nearly 4,000 participants set out on a unique journey across a large bay of Lake Superior. What began as an event for the local neighborhood to break through the unbearable winter months, has now become a region wide tradition! The annual event known as the Book Across the Bay, continues to grow in popularity with participants throughout the Midwest. Kicking off with a bonfire on the ice of Lake Superior, the largest winter season event for snowshoe and skiing enthusiast features a groomed 10 kilometer race course, lit by over 1,000 candle luminaries. Starting in Ashland, Wisconsin and ending in Washburn, Wisconsin the entire race is held on the ice!

The 2011 version of the Book introduced ChronoTrack Systems as the timing solution. In its debut at the event the B-Tag received rave reviews from all involved. “As timers we felt this is the best overall timing system we have used at the Book Across the Bay. More importantly, the event staff and racers have high praise for the big tag timing system. In the end the racers thanked the event for being able to pick up their packets and timing tags early and with one pass through the registration” added Chuck Olson of White River Sports.

The addition of events like the Book Across the Bay are welcomed by ChronoTrack Systems and their certified timing partners. “We are excited to put our technology to the test in a unique and exciting environment such as the Book Across the Bay. It is our goal that endurance events around the world are able to experience the features and benefits of ChronoTrack” added Dan Howell ChronoTrack CEO and President.

Not only does the Book offer a unique race course, it also has become known for the exciting features the race committee strives to bring forward for their competitors. Race entrants are treated to a fireworks display while racing and an after party that includes great food and beverages. “Adding ChronoTrack to the event this year allowed competitors to avoid chip collection at the finish line and allowed us to make better use of the limited area surrounding the finish. Racers were able to cross the line and reunite with their families to enjoy the after party” stated Olson.

If you are interested in an all around great racing experience, mark your calendars for the 2012 Book Around the Bay in Northern Wisconsin! More information about this unique race can be found at www.batb.org.

In the winter of 2009, ChronoTrack Systems held their inaugural User’s Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. As part of the conference, ChronoTrack had a desire to create an annual award to honor the efforts of their hard working certified timers. The “Pioneer Award” is awarded to an individual or company who helped raise the bar and create new opportunities for the timing community in that particular calendar year. The 2011 winner of this prestigious award was Alan Jones of RunScore.

Known as the father of scoring software Alan Jones made his mark on the sport of long distance running decades ago with the release of his initial scoring software in 1983. Since 1983, Jones has worked to refine his scoring solution for timers throughout the world. In February of 2007, the running community honored Alan, when they inducted him into the Running USA Hall of Champions. Jones’ accomplishments don’t just revolve around race scoring as Alan is also credited with the development of the Jones Counter, a device used to measure racing courses for accuracy.

Over the last several years as running has experienced its second boom and events continue to grow, so to do the demands on the timers and scoring software. “From the very beginning Alan was there as a support system. When the timers said it needed to be done he found a way to do it. His passion for timing and love of the sport make him so valuable to all of us” stated Anne Gault former Pioneer Award Winner and current RunScore user.

After his college career at Penn State ended, Alan went to work for IBM as a programmer. His experience working for IBM came in very handy when he timed his first race in 1970 for SUNY Binghamton. “Alan started all of this voluntarily, working to time a meet in New York. From that point he has been working hard to increase the opportunities for the timers in the sport. He listened to what we needed in the beginning and is still doing so today. It is remarkable just how valuable this man is to our sport and its success” added Neil MacDonald Event Technical Services. (The second longest RunScore User in the states)

Jones joins previous Pioneer award winners; John and Anne Gault (Gault Race Management), The New York Road Runners, Steve “KEI” Keith (Results Event Timing), Dennis and Judy Ikenberry (Race Central) and Jeff Castro (Accu-Split Timing).

About ChronoTrack Systems, LLC
ChronoTrack is the market leader in timing systems technology. In 2008 ChronoTrack redefined the industry standard with their single use D-Tag® timing tag, UHF RFID timing controller and comprehensive scalable timing system. In 2010 ChronoTrack again raised the bar with the release of the B-Tag and MiniTrack controller. Currently, ChronoTrack Systems is proudly timing 21 of the top 25 races in North America, including world majors the ING New York Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon. ChronoTrack is now reaching out to the European market with the same attention to detail and industry leading technology that has become expected here in North America.