HONOLULU MARATHON
Instant results by magic wand
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Honolulu Marathon finishers will spend hours on the 26.2-mile course Sunday, and after they cross the finish line each will be able to get instant and official data regarding their times.
Mike Burns of the Michigan-based company Burns Computer Services/ChampionChip USA said the process involves a 4-foot wand, computer and printer.
When a wand touches a runner's microchip, the data is sent to a computer and a 1 1/2-by-4-inch thermal label and the individual's name and time will be printed from a device attached to the wand holder's belt. The time from chip scan to printout is 3 seconds, according to Burns.
There will be 15 wands at five stations throughout Kapi'olani Park — the race's finishing point.
At maximum efficiency a wand can read and print 18,000 labels per hour, Burns said. He added the wand holders won't be swamped because no more than 5,000 runners finish within the same hour.
"I think it's cool," Honolulu Marathon president Jim Barahal said. "It's a bonus that gives instant feedback and gratification. In the instant information age it's a perfect fit."
Runners can stick their labels on their bib for everyone to see. Burns referred to the process as being "branded."
"You don't have to tell them. Each time someone sees that, it's a little bit of an ego boost," he said. "Everyone will look and see your official time and congratulate you."
The wand system was used for the first time this October at the St. George Marathon in Utah.
Burns said the response was "great" as three wands accommodated 5,000 finishers.
Barahal said 25,000 to 26,000 finishers are expected for Sunday's race.
"The Honolulu Marathon is the first major international event to use the process," Burn said.
A couple of race results boards also will be located at Kapi'olani Park, according to Barahal.
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STARS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS
Actors and University of Hawai'i football players will sign autographs at The Honolulu Marathon Expo at the Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. The expo — open from Wednesday through Saturday — drew more than 62,000 people last year. Actors who will be signing autographs will be "Lost" actress Yunjin Kim (Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.), "Lost" actor Naveen Andrews (Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.), and actress Kelly Hu (Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Football players will be Leonard Peters, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins. The session is free and will be held Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pictured autograph cards will be made available for free. Peters and Bess are all-Western Athletic Conference first-team selections. The Honolulu Marathon starts at 5 a.m. on Dec. 10, beginning at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Queen Street extension. Here is their schedule of events: WEDNESDAY Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; late entry registration, noon to 5 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle: Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Honolulu Marathon Legends 5K, 7:45 a.m., Kapi'olani Park Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle: Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Legends of Running autograph session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Convention Center. (Frank Shorter, Kip Keino, Meb Keflezighi, Patti Dillon, Carla Beurskens, Ian Stewart, Greg Meyer, Alberto Salazar, Cosmas Ndeti) Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle: Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Legends of Running autograph session, at Convention Center. 10 a.m. to noon. (Frank Shorter, Kip Keino, Meb Keflezighi, Patti Dillon, Carla Beurskens, Ian Stewart, Greg Meyer, Alberto Salazar, Cosmas Ndeti) Univesity of Hawai'i football players Leonard Peters, Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Convention Center. Actress Yunjin Kim ("Lost") autograph session, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Convention Center. Souvenir Sales, Kapi'olani Park noon to 9 p.m. Clothing check-in, Kapi'olani Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Honolulu Marathon concert/luau Jake Shimabukuro and Gavin DeGraw at Waikiki Shell; gates open at 4 p.m., concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Food service ends at 7:15 p.m. Honolulu Marathon Expo, Hawai'i Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave. Mandatory packet pickup; Late entry registration, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expo courtesy shuttle Waikiki/Hawai'i Convention Center: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kelly Hu (movie/TV actress) autograph session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Naveen Andrews ("Lost" actor) autograph session, 2 to 4 p.m., at Convention Center. Souvenir Sales, Kapi'olani Park 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clothing check-in, Kapi'olani Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bus transportation to start area, Kapi'olani Park. 2 to 4 a.m. Honolulu Marathon start, 5 a.m., Queen Street extension near Ala Moana Beach Park. Race Day Walk, start, 5:25 a.m., Queen Street extension near Ala Moana Beach Park Finish line/area services, Kapi'olani Park, 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free concert at Kapi'olani Bandstand 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring Jake Shimabukuro Awards ceremony, Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, 1 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finisher certificate pick-up, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Souvenir sales, Kapi'olani Park 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.
