Checkpoint Promotion and Granularity
Checkpoints in RUFUS Race Manager (RRM) are designed to be flexible and intelligent. They not only record passings at specific points on the course but also adapt dynamically when conditions change, giving race organizers maximum control and reliability.
Promotion of Passings
If a checkpoint in the race plan is closed, RRM does not simply discard passings that occur at that point. Instead, it automatically moves them forward to the next available checkpoint in the participant’s race plan.
Example: A passing is recorded at the Start checkpoint after it has been closed. The system assigns it to the next open checkpoint (e.g., Finish).
This ensures that participants’ race continuity is preserved, even if certain checkpoints are no longer active.
The internal service may mark this step as PROMOTED, but what timers see in the UI is the resulting VALID passing at the new checkpoint.
This behavior maintains fairness and accuracy while reducing the chance of lost data.
Logical vs Physical Checkpoints
In real-world races, the Start and Finish lines are often at the same physical location. In RRM, however, it is best practice to configure them as separate checkpoints.
This approach gives timers more granularity and control:
Close Start independently → Once all participants have started, you can close the Start checkpoint while keeping the Finish checkpoint open.
Manage notifications separately → You can silence notifications for Start (to avoid overload during a mass start) while still allowing Finish notifications.
Handle race plan progression correctly → With separate checkpoints, RRM can shift passings through the plan without ambiguity.
Even though the two checkpoints may share the same physical mat, treating them separately in the software provides significant operational benefits.
Best Practices
Always configure Start and Finish as distinct checkpoints, even if they share the same location.
Use checkpoint closing to reduce noise once a phase of the race is complete.
Adjust notifications per checkpoint to match operational needs.
Monitor the Event Control View to confirm how passings are applied.
Summary
By combining promotion through the race plan with the ability to define logical checkpoints, RRM ensures that passings are always handled consistently and that race organizers have full control over timing operations.
This flexibility is especially valuable when the same physical location acts as both the start and finish line.
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