I did a pretty big event last year, and it was the first time I had been given the chip. Considering there was, if I remember right , over 1000 atheletes, and getting my chip and having it set up only took a couple of minutes. I my circumstance I would prefer to put the $ towards something like a new bike or shoes.

Just my opinion.

Championchip is an electronic device used to track your time over the course. In triathlon it is attached to a velcro band that goes around your ankle. Mats are placed throught the course and as you cross them the championchip records your time/splits.

In the marathons and tris I have done, getting the chip is an easy process. It usually comes in your race packet and gets returned in the finish chute or area.

I bought a ChampionChip last year, and the thing I like about it is, that I have a ankle band that fits, it's comfortable, and I know it won't fall off.

I have had a rented chip and band fall off before, and with my own, I don't worry about that. Whenever I run a race with it, I take the Chip with me to the Expo, and have the chip tested.

I have my own chip..a nice neoprene band that fits snug and the piece of mind that it works!
Besides it's just one of those things that says, "I'm serious enough about this to own my own."
Alot of folks buy a commemerative one from a particular big race they have done as a keepsake,
and at $35 it's a hell of alot cheaper than some race gear that lasts one fourth as long.

I paid $35, and kept the Champsion Chip from my first marathon race - the 2002 NYC. At the time, I saw it as motivational, insprirational and also cool (in a tre-geek kind of way), to own my own chip.

I've used my chip in about half of the races the I've done since, and every time I break it out, it does bring back good memories of training hard for my first long-distance race. In the other half of my races, the director insist on using their own chip (which is also fine).

My advise would be to buy one if it has any special meaning for you. Otherwise, put the money towards another race.

Also, like Anton, I use my own neoprene band with my chip. I highly recommend using a band. I have a DeSoto band, but there are several others (Fuel Belt, etc) that should work equally as well.

Cheers,
Tanguay

If it is a security and comfort issues, you could also just get a nice band. I've just never really had one, so tend to use the race ones (although I admit I was tempted at IM AZ to get one... there were enough other shiny things that got my $$ instead).

I have my own chip and there are two advantages to owning one. First, a number of running races will knock a dollar or two off the etnry cost if you provide your own (since they rent them ala carte in many cases). Second, in smaller events where there are few or no volunteers helping to remove chips, this middle-aged guy doesn't have to bend over to take his chip off. That's no small thing after pounding out a hard run. :D

I bought my own chip accidentally when I was signing up for the '03 USMC marathon. I was annoyed that I had done so at first, and frankly I wasn't sure how I managed to miss the opportunities to undo my purchase. Whatever. Anyway, since then I've used it in every race I've done from sprint tri's to other big city marathons. I've never had a problem with registering with the my chip number and have been able to avoid long pickup lines in three of my triathlons. So while I've had good experiences as a chip owner, and I don't really see a downside (save losing it, or forgetting to register it or bring it to a race) I don't know that I would purposely go out and buy it. FWIW.