Kinda Like Being Under House Arrest

Triathletes are gadget junkies.  We measure almost everything while are training or racing to gain understanding where we need to improve.  Actually, if you've every gone to see a triathlon you'll find that triathletes tend to drag a lot of stuff with us. It's not uncommon for competitors to be carrying fuel belts, power meters on our bikes and GPS units, just to name a few.  Maybe we'd be faster if we just didn't bring any of that stuff with us. We're kind of crazy when I think about it. 

Big races, like the Ironman, go the next step in gadgetry, where competitors are required to carry a timing chip.  Attached to your ankle, this device is kinda like what the police give folks who are under house arrest.  At several points during a race competitors cross timing mats on the road and the timing chip helps record the time it took for you to get to that point on the course since the start of the race (see my posted video on the sand ladder and you can hear the runner cross the timing mat with at the top of the hill). 

After the race, competitors can review each section of the course and their "splits".  That's not the best part though.  Because of these timing chips, folks from all over world can tune into the race website and track their favorite athlete as they make their way through the race.  The Escape from Alcatraz is one of those races.  You'll be able to see when I've started the swim, reached the beach next to the Golden Gate and finish on the bike...all in real-time as I make my way through the course.  Once we get closer to the race I'll post how to track me as I make my way around the course.

Turkey Trot 5k, 2010

Farmington, ME