I have a chance to buy my own chip for $25. I don't see much advantage to owning one other than not having to hassle with returning it. Anyone have any thoughts on it?
I have a chance to buy my own chip for $25. I don't see much advantage to owning one other than not having to hassle with returning it. Anyone have any thoughts on it?
Many races are discounted $1-$2 if you have your own chip. In theory if you run enough of these "chip" races it will pay for itself.
Not once have I seen a race offer a discount for having your own chip. Not saying it never happens, but I've never seen it.
I bought one for my first Boston Marathon. Wore it a few times. There were a few local races that would grant you a couple bucks discount if you had your own, but that's not why I bought it. It was just a commemorative sort of thing.
I never wear it anymore though. Every single time I have worn it in a race I have raced like dogmeat. 7 or 8 straight times. The moment I stopped using it, I had a great race. My superstition has the better of me.
Incidentally, I've found it's more of a hassle to have your own chip than to use the one the race gives you. Once you've given the race one back, you don't have to think about it again. A couple of times I signed up for a race with my own chip and then, come race day, I couldn't find it. That was a real pain.