This really is a silly question...
I did a race today and was told it would be chip times. When I got there I was told that only the further distance runners would be chip timed and my time would be gun times.
I understand the difference between the two but how do the organisers know what time you finish in if you don't have a chip? I was wearing a number; do they just watch individual runners and make a note of the time when they cross the finish line? I'm used to parkrun where you get a token but could not work out how they worked it out today!
Anyone have any ideas to satisfy my curiosity?