There's value in knowing your splits and pace, which you can't get from the timing system that was there. The timing mats were at non traditional locations, you want to see how much pace dropped second time up the hill, etc. Does hitting stop right after the line matter? No, but I'd like to know my pacing details.
Having the data from the race is pretty important in the reflecting process. As a college runner, having that data as accurate as possible is crutial to me and my training. Plus having that time on my wrist rather than waiting to pull up a timesheet on a phone potentially an hour later to see if you hit a PR is a bit benefit. Yea I can look at the finish clock as I cross the line, but most of the time I'm not paying attention to that while I'm finishing. Watches make a big difference in racing and defintely have a place on the course.
I agree, it's not a good look - and it could be costly in a tightly contested race.
However, I think people sometimes do it out of habit. That is, they're using their watch for the other data fields (pace, HR, distance, etc.) and then they stop their watch on the line because that's what they've done a million times before without thinking.
It's the way of the Strava World now. There once was a time when racing with a watch just wasn't done because you were racing. You had people doing the tming and you concentrated on running as fast as you could from the start to the finish. More and more, people are concerned that it is recorded for Strava so that they can get their pat's on the back for running.
I've watched numerous kids cross the finish line holding their wrist ready to hit the watch instead of pushing past the line because thats whats important to them. Instead of the days when we had running logs for our own private recording, now it's has to be immortalized for all to see on Strava or it doesn't count.
Times be a changing.
The worst is when people continue to run beyond the finish line of a race, so that they can get a reading of 5k, 10k etc. on their GPS watch.
You are correct that people need to focus only on finishing as fast as possible. You’re incorrect when you miss any of the value of running with a watch, reflecting on your race later, etc.
everyone needs to know: you can crop your workouts!! In the app!! Forget stopping your watch at the line wait a second or 2 you silly geese, and teach your kids they look like dinguses for doing it. Make them some kind of punishment for any finish line photos where their arms are even raised to stop before the line and you’ll have taken care of your issue.
This was raised on a thread here but I can’t find it now. What’s up with runners, in a national championship, with FAT, struggling to stop their Apple watches at the finish line? Whaa?? So they can see their very own, unofficial time? Cause they don’t trust PT Timing?? If this is in a Park Run, that’s one thing. But Stillwater was a friggin national championship. They ought to be busting a gut to pick up those final 2, 3 or even 4 places. And since some of those runners are intent on getting their times right at the finish line, they start preparing 5 meters out. You’ve seen them: they lift their left arm and try to find the stop button with their (gloved) right hand. They fumble around, and finally find the button and push. All the while their stride and concentration are thrown off. This is recipe for losing places, and for no reason! In the men’s race on Saturday, places 4-7 were separated by 9 tenths of a second. Places 24-28 were separated by 9 tenths. Places 63, 64 and 65 clocked exactly the same time. Two other runners were 2 tenths and 3 tenths behind them. Five runners within 3 tenths of a second. Apparently, none of these affected the team standings but if you’re going to “leave it all on the course,” that includes the whole course.
I hate to disparage you since I agree with your general sentiment...but seriously, what the hell are you talking about?
I went back and watched the finished. NONE of the evidence supports your claims. Maybe 5% of the participants are even wearing a watch, much less fumbling to stop it. And nobody is losing a place because they chose to stop their watch instead of pumping their arms a couple times at the finish. I mean, if you can find it, timestamp it but it certainly is not some epidemic like your moral outrage is making it to be.
You should be a lot more concerned about what making up false claims means for you then what "self timing" means for runners.
but the distance in local races cannot be relied upon. sometimes short, sometimes long. the results page will say 10k but your watch will tell you it was really 9.7k.
but the distance in local races cannot be relied upon. sometimes short, sometimes long. the results page will say 10k but your watch will tell you it was really 9.7k.
as if the watch could be relied upon.
The only things watchs are really accurate about is time. Heartrate (wrist) and distance is an estimation with sometimes huge errors.
Unfortunately this starts at the top with bad role models in the highest reaches of the sport. Cheptegai stopped his watch at the end of his WR run. Luckily there were not any water stops along the course or many of the runners would have been inspired by Jakob to get some hydration.
At NJCAA nationals in Tallahassee they had water stations at 5k and 7k, actually might have been kinda useful as it was 81 and humid at race time
It's just habit. Distance runners start and stop their watch several times per day during training. They also get stats about their run that they won't get from the timing coming, heart rate, strides per minute, etc.
This and many a runner used to running with a watch feels naked without that little device on their wrist.