Awards

In the spirit of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, we are presenting overall and age group athletes winners with gold, silver, and bronze medals as this year’s awards. These are completely different from our normal finisher’s medals.

Gun Time vs Chip Time

  • GunTime

    Also known as clock time, this is the official time that includes the time it takes for all runners to cross the starting line. When the "gun" goes off, everyone's race time starts, regardless of how far back in the start chute you are. If you take 30 seconds to cross the start line and officially begin your race, you already have 30 seconds on your time. This is why, for age group awards, most large races, to be fair, do not use gun time other than for determining the overall winners of the race. 

  • Chip Time

    Also known as net time, this is a more accurate measurement of an individual's performance. Chip time is calculated based on when the timing equipment (mat or antennas) reads the runner's timing tag on their bib when they start and finish the race. This means that if you take 30 seconds to officially cross the start line due to how far back in the chute you are, you are not penalized. Your time starts when you get to the start line.

  • Houston Methodist Half Marathon & 10k Overall Winners / Invitational Category, Handcycles, Wheelchairs, & Para
    Gun time for these categories. Runners wishing to compete for the overall male/female awards must be registered for the Invitational category and position themselves in the front of the start chute. If an Age Grouper turns in a faster chip time than the gun-timed Invitational winner, they will be awarded the "Age Group Overall Winner" award instead. 

  • Houston Methodist Half Marathon & 10k Overall Age Group Winner, Age Group Winners, & Guardians
    Chip time for these categories. If a runner in the age group categories has the fastest overall time in the race, he/she will still be listed as the "Age Group Overall Winner." If a wants to compete for the "Overall Title," they need to be in the Invitational.

  • No Double-Dipping
    A runner winning an award will always be given the highest award they qualify for. This means they cannot get a second award. Overalls, Masters, Grand Masters, cannot qualify to also win their age group award, etc. 

If you would like to change to the Invitiational category to compete for the overall title, please email us.

  • To Qualify for the Invitational category - Male 1:25:00 / Female 1:40:00 finish times from a race in the past 12-months are required.