In marathons and other running events, there are two common methods used to record and report a runner’s time: gun time and chip time. These two times provide different perspectives on a runner’s performance, and here’s the difference between them:

Gun Time: Gun time, also known as “clock time” or “official time,” is the total time that elapses from the moment the starting gun (or signal) is fired to the moment a runner crosses the finish line. In other words, it measures the time it takes for a runner to complete the entire course from the race’s official start.

• Gun time is used to determine the overall winners of the race, as it reflects the order in which runners cross the finish line, regardless of when they actually started the race.
• It is essential for elite and competitive runners who are vying for top positions and overall rankings.
  

Chip Time: Chip time, also known as “net time” or “individual time,” is the time it takes for a runner to complete the race from the moment they cross the starting line (after the gun goes off) to the moment they cross the finish line. It represents the actual time a runner spent on the course.

• Chip time is often used for all runners in a race, as it provides a more accurate reflection of their personal performance and allows for fair comparisons, especially in large races with staggered starts.
• It accounts for any delays a runner may experience at the start line, which can be significant in races with thousands of participants.
• Chip time is the time most recreational runners focus on because it better reflects their true running performance.

In summary, gun time is the official time used to determine the winners and rankings of the race, while chip time is the time that accounts for an individual runner’s actual start and finish times, often used for tracking personal performance and assessing improvement. Both times are typically recorded and made available to runners in race results.