ChampionChip owners?

I'm all for anything that streamlines the pre-race shenanigans, so I quite like the idea of having my own chip that I don't have to pick-up and tie on at the event and also, come to think of it, that I don't have to worry about returning.

Mind you, I guess it could make for some interesting finish line scenes as runners with their own chips fight off the volunteers with scissors determined to get them off.

Interestingly, while I was checking details of the Comrades Marathon for my blog item I saw an FAQ on the site headed "Must I have a ChampionChip?" The answer was: "Every runner must own their own personal ChampionChip, which they must present at number collection."

oh wow, it seemed like it was more common in some countries than here. But I think that it would be frustrating if someone input your number wrong and you didn't get your results... They probably instruct people at finish lines to watch out for the personal ones as they are yellow and the ones most races provide are blue, but it's an interesting thing to think about.

I didn't know they were different colours.

Yes, the whole thing is fraught with problems. If you buy your own chip I guess you've got to be convinced that the technology is reliable. I'm not.

Another thing I'd like to see is a personal, permanent, lifetime race number -- imagine, none of that faffing around with safety pins with nervous, sweaty, trembling hands at every race!

That is one of my biggest problems with races... I hate putting my bib number on with safety pins. It takes me like 5 full minutes!