In the world of small races, some may consider hiring a timer something of a luxury. A thing you do when you’re well-funded and well-attended. In some ways that line of thinking is understandable. But, in actuality, the truth is a bit different.
Along with timing and scoring races, timers often act as consultants for races, helping them with a wide range of things. Their experience, connections, and industry knowledge make them an invaluable resource for races of all sizes.
Because of that – and a ton of other reasons – we wanted to share our thoughts on why we think all small races need to consider hiring a timer as an investment and not a luxury.
Timers can save you money
Budgets are a reality all races have to face. For the most well-funded of the bunch, it may not be so top-of-mind, but money is often a big factor for smaller races as they tend to have fewer resources and a need to stretch them as much as possible.
Though hiring a timer is a cost, there are plenty of ways they can potentially help save you money or time:
- A timer’s experience can be invaluable in saving time and money. By preventing costly mistakes and providing efficient strategies, they can help you maximize your race day performance. It’s similar to relying on YouTube for DIY plumbing. While it might seem like a cost-saving option, there’s a risk of causing more damage and ultimately needing to hire a professional anyway. One year of incorrect self-timing can impact your ability to attract runners for years to come.
- Beyond their expertise, timers often have established relationships with vendors and buy in bulk. This can lead to significant savings on race-related items like merchandise and bibs. Their connections can provide you with exclusive discounts or special offers that you might not find on your own.
- Investing in a timer’s services is not just about their expertise, but also about the time they’ve spent perfecting their craft. Learning how to time a race yourself can be a time-consuming process that takes away from more valuable activities. By hiring a timer, you’re essentially outsourcing this task, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your training and preparation. 57% of Timing Businesses provide services to 50+ events each year. That’s a lot of experience and insight they’re bringing directly to your event.
- Timers can take some of the work off your plate. Did you know 82% of Timers provide services beyond timing? Some timers include services like registration setup, RunSignup website design, email marketing, merchandise management, and more. In some cases, paying a little more for additional services can pay off in a more professional race and more time for you.
When you take into account the potential savings a timer brings, it’s possible that the costs they help offset could pay their fee. Making it a net neutral, or even net positive, situation.
Timers can (potentially) help grow your race
Along with helping save you money, there’s potential a timer could also help you bring in more revenue by helping grow your race. Their deep involvement in the local running community provides them with unique insights and connections.
Many timers also have websites that list upcoming events – our data shows , which runners frequently consult. Additionally, they often distribute newsletters to the local community, providing a platform to promote your race, and giving you access to your local running community in a way you couldn’t get otherwise.
Along with their own reach they also commonly have relationships with local running stores and groups. By connecting you with these influential entities, timers can help you reach a wider audience and attract more participants. Moreover, timers have a vested interest in the success of your race. As your event grows, so does their potential role, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Last, it’s important to note that timing is often a crucial factor for many runners. Some individuals may choose not to participate in races that lack proper timing services. Without a timer, you’re essentially limited to only hosting people who are interested in fun runs. Depending on your specific event, that may be fine, but having a timer is generally the way to make sure you have the largest potential participant pool.
Hiring a timer may not cost as much as you think
The most common objection people have for hiring a timer is cost. The truth of the matter is that the cost for timing services can vary quite a lot. Oftentimes they offer a variety of packages, with different levels of responsibility. The fewer responsibilities they have, the lower the cost.
Also, make sure you get multiple quotes. Different timing companies have different costs for services. It’s like getting insurance, you shop around to find the best deal. And if you need help finding a timer in your area, our Timer Search Tool is a great resource. Timers with badges have been certified in specific RunSignup products (RaceDay Scoring, RaceJoy, RaceDay CheckIn, and RunSignup) so you can be confident in their knowledge of our products.
Timers Make RaceDay Easier
As a race director, race mornings can be very stressful. Your timer can assist you with choosing the right process and flow for race day registration, bib assignment, and check-in.
RaceDay Registration Options
Races have a couple of options for race day registration, including:
- Leave online registration open until the gun goes off. Encourage people to register from home before they head to the race site and use on-site QR code signage for them to register from their phones when they arrive.
- Setup a few kiosks with On-Site Registration and volunteers to help guide runners through the process.
Both are great options and help you capture the most possible participants for your race. Additionally, your timer can help you set fast registration options that speed the registration process on race morning while ensuring key fields needed for timing are still included.
RaceDay CheckIn
If you want to take the race day experience to the next level, The RaceDay CheckIn App is a great tool. It connects directly to your RunSignup data so participants who registered on-site will instantly appear for check-in.
Your timer can also help you determine your plan for bib assignment. Those are:
- Pre-assigned bibs that volunteers can look up and hand out.
- Dynamic bib assignment where bibs are assigned on-site as runners check-in.
- Or, a combination of the two, with pre-registered participants assigned bibs in advance and race morning registrants assigned bibs on-site.
Which option is best depends on your specific race and circumstances. So having someone around like a timer can help you navigate the waters and find the most fitting option.
If hiring a timer isn’t an option…
We think hiring a timer is one of the best investments any race can make. That said, we do understand that sometimes it’s not in the cards for everyone. In those cases, we do have a Mobile Timing App you can use to time a race. It was originally developed to serve as a backup for timers, as well as offer an option for races like trail runs, that could support traditional timing equipment.
As a primary means of timing, the Mobile Timing App is best-suited for races with 50 or fewer participants. We have a number of useful educational resources you can find here.
Moving forward
Timers can help save money, grow your race, and provide invaluable expertise. Their ability to prevent costly mistakes, negotiate vendor discounts, and connect you with the local running community can have a significant impact on the success of your event.
By investing in a timer, you’re not just improving your race day experience, but also ensuring that your event is well-organized, professional, and attractive to the biggest audience possible.