Which time should count as your personal best?
You cross the finish line. Stop your watch. Check your result.
Your watch says 5.04 km, but the race was 5 km. Your watch time is 26:18. Your official chip time is 26:35.
Which one should count as your personal best? For many runners, the answer is surprisingly simple: your official race result.
1. GPS watches are brilliant, but they're not perfect
Modern GPS watches are incredible pieces of technology. They can track your pace, distance, heart rate and training almost anywhere in the world.
But even the best GPS watch can't measure every race perfectly.
Small GPS inaccuracies happen because of:
- Buildings blocking satellite signals
- Tree cover
- Sharp corners
- Running around other competitors
- Signal drift before or during the race
These tiny differences may only add a few metres at a time, but over an entire race they can become hundreds of metres. That's why it's common to see your watch record a slightly different distance to the official course.
2. Race courses are professionally measured
One of the biggest advantages of racing is knowing the distance is accurate. Many road races are measured using internationally recognised standards, including AIMS course measurement procedures.
When you line up for a certified 5 km, 10 km, half marathon or marathon, organisers have taken great care to ensure the course is the advertised distance.
Your GPS watch estimates the distance you ran.
The course provides the official distance.
3. Your watch doesn't know the perfect racing line
Race courses are measured using the shortest possible legal route, often called the racing line. In reality, very few runners follow that exact line.
Think about how often you:
- Weave around other runners
- Move out to overtake
- Grab a drink at an aid station
- Drift wide around corners
Every extra step adds a little more distance.
That's why it's perfectly normal for a GPS watch to record:
- 5.03 km for a 5 km race
- 10.08 km for a 10 km race
- 21.25 km for a half marathon
It doesn't mean the course was too long. It usually means you simply ran a little further than the shortest measured route.
4. Official chip times are designed to be fair
At organised races, your chip time starts when you cross the start line and stops when you cross the finish line. It doesn't matter how crowded the start is. Everyone is measured using the same timing system.
That's why official race results are recognised for:
- Personal bests
- Age group rankings
- Championship results
- Club records
- Qualification standards
They're the results recognised by race organisers, clubs and governing bodies.
5. Consistency matters more than tiny differences
Imagine recording your personal best from:
- A GPS watch one week
- A treadmill the next
- A local fun run after that
Each uses a different method of measurement. Comparing them becomes difficult.
Recording your official race results means you're comparing like with like. It's one of the simplest ways to measure genuine progress over months and years.
6. GPS watches are great training tools
This isn't about choosing between a GPS watch and official race results. They each have an important role.
Your GPS watch is fantastic for:
- Training runs
- Pacing
- Interval sessions
- Long runs
- Monitoring effort
Official race results are ideal for:
- Recording personal bests
- Tracking progress over time
- Building your race history
- Celebrating milestones
The two work together. One helps you train. The other records what you've achieved.
7. One home for every race
BeatYourBest was built around one simple idea.
Your race history deserves one home.
Every event seems to use a different timing company or results website. Over time, your achievements become scattered across old emails, race organisers, timing websites and fitness apps.
Finding that PB from three years ago shouldn't feel like a treasure hunt.
BeatYourBest gives you one dedicated place to record every official race result, including:
- Official chip time
- Official gun time, if you choose
- Race distance
- Event details
- Personal notes and memories
Instead of wondering where you ran your fastest 10 km or when you set your half marathon PB, everything is organised in one place. A complete running history. Ready whenever you want to look back.
Your running story
GPS technology has transformed running. It helps us train smarter, understand our performance and stay motivated.
But when it comes to recording your achievements, nothing replaces an officially measured course and an official race result.
BeatYourBest isn't designed to replace your GPS watch. It's designed to become the home for your running journey: a place where every official race result, every personal best and every milestone is kept together for years to come.
One place for every official race result.
Track progress. Celebrate improvement. Beat your best.