Customer Snapshot
- Years operating: 20+ years
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Tools used: RaceDay Scoring, RaceDay CheckIn
A Unique Challenge: The Pump and Run 5K
For more than two decades the Arnold Sports Festival Pump and Run 5K, held in Columbus Ohio, offers participants a one-of-a-kind competition that blends strength and endurance. Runners can shave 30 seconds off their official race time for each successful bench press repetition completed before the 5K run. This format allows a runner with a slower 5K time but more bench press reps to place ahead of a faster runner with fewer reps. For instance, a 16:28 5K finisher with 30 reps (earning a 15-minute deduction) would have an adjusted time of 1:28, whereas a 15:02 finisher with only one rep (30-second deduction) would have an adjusted time of 14:32.
“Our final adjusted times will usually be somewhere around a minute and 30 to a minute and 40 seconds, which means they are running somewhere between 16 and 17 minutes on a 5K and lifting 30 reps of their body weight.”
– Andy Harris, Arnold Pump and Run 5K Race Director and Timer
Arnold Pump and Run 5K’s unique format of strength component combined with endurance brings complexity to the scoring of the event. Andy Harris from Columbus Running Company has been overseeing the event’s timing and operations for 13 years. This year, he leveraged RunSignup’s RaceDay Technology CheckIn and RaceDay Scoring functions, taking advantage of their seamless integration to overcome previous challenges in managing both the strength and endurance aspects. This led to faster results, greater accuracy, and a smarter race overall.
Pump and Run Previous Multi-Step Process
Historically, managing and scoring this event was complex and time-consuming. Volunteers manually recorded each participant’s rep count on paper before transferring the data to a shared spreadsheet. The timer then had to upload this information into The Race Director software, generate deduction reports, and manually adjust participant records.
This process was prone to errors and delays, often postponing the publication of official results until all data was verified and uploaded to the event’s results page on RunSignup. Each correction required a cumbersome workflow:
- Verify participant claims
- Edit the data in The Race Director
- Re-run and download the deductions report
- Delete the old result set and upload the new CSV into RunSignup
- Repeat this process multiple times until all corrections were finalized
Pump and Run 5K’s New, Efficient Process with RaceDay Technology
Andy Harris recognized an opportunity to enhance the process by leveraging RunSignup’s RaceDay technology suite. Working with the RaceDay team, he transitioned to RaceDay Scoring and implemented a new system using RaceDay CheckIn and RaceDay Scoring’s Computed Fields.
RaceDay CheckIn for Faster, More Reliable Data Entry
With the RaceDay CheckIn app, volunteers could now enter bench press reps directly into the system, eliminating the need for paper records and significantly reducing data entry errors. Real-time synchronization ensured that rep counts were instantly available in RaceDay Scoring, streamlining the entire process.
RaceDay Scoring for Automating Time Deductions with Computed Fields
To automate time deductions, Andy utilized the Computed Fields feature in RaceDay Scoring. He configured the system to subtract 30 seconds (or 30,000 milliseconds) per rep from the participant’s chip time, producing an adjusted time. This adjusted time was then automatically published to RunSignup’s results page, ensuring participants and spectators had immediate access to accurate standings.
What is a Computed Field?
Computed Fields are additional fields calculated by RaceDay Scoring that are added to your existing data set to be used in Reports. They allow you to have additional data beyond just your Participant Information and any Chip Read Times for a participant..
RaceDay Technology Impact: Faster, Smoother, and Live Results
Reflecting on the improved process, Andy noted:
“Data entry is smoother and faster. A volunteer familiar with both the old spreadsheet method and the new app remarked on the increased efficiency. By integrating rep counts directly into participant records and automating calculations within custom reports, we achieved live result publishing for the first time in my 13 years of timing this event. Witnessing the immediate reshuffling of standings—such as the first finisher with a 15:02 time dropping in rank due to completing only one bench rep—was remarkable.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Involvement
The Arnold Sports Festival, co-founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger, attracts thousands of athletes and spectators annually. Schwarzenegger’s active participation adds prestige to the event. In previous years, he has personally kicked off the Pump and Run 5K, emphasizing its unique blend of strength and endurance. His presence not only motivates participants but also elevates the festival’s prominence.
“It’s all about inspiring people,” Schwarzenegger said. “You pump them up to make people move, to make them exercise every day, live a healthy life and just have fun at the same time. That’s what it’s all about.”
Conclusion: A New Standard for Race Timing
Andy’s innovative approach is a testament to how timers can think outside the box to leverage RunSignup’s RaceDay technology to overcome challenges and enhance the experience for both race operations and participants. This example exemplifies how RaceDay technology can streamline complex event scoring, improve data accuracy, and deliver real-time results.
By reducing manual data entry, eliminating errors, and automating deductions, RaceDay Scoring and RaceDay CheckIn have helped to transform the Pump and Run 5K into a seamlessly managed event, setting a new benchmark for race timing innovation. Thank you, Andy, for your ingenuity and for taking race timing to the next level!