Complete User Guide

Everything you need to know about NordicRaceTrace — from first tap to shared results.

Video Tutorials

Watch step-by-step walkthroughs covering timing basics, start list imports, Share Live with co-timers, and more.

View All on YouTube

1. Split Timing (On-Course Timing)

The simplest timing model — stand anywhere on the course and record times as athletes pass. No start list required.

Assumptions: Racers start in bib order, at intervals of 0s (mass start), 15s, or 30s. For pursuit, tandem, or other start formats, upload a start list with custom start times.

  1. Open the app

    Launch NordicRaceTrace on your iPhone or iPad. Make sure "Split Timing" is selected in Settings.

  2. Verify start interval

    The default is 30 seconds. Toggle to mass start (0s) or 15-second intervals in Settings if needed.

  3. Start timing

    Tap the big timer button when the first racer starts. The clock begins counting up.

  4. Record splits

    Enter each athlete's bib number and tap to record. If you don't know the bib, just tap — it saves as "Unknown" and you can assign it later.

  5. View & export results

    Tap the results icon (bottom-right) to view, edit, and export your splits. Save the event for later access.

Entry Modes

Number Pad

Type the bib number, then tap the timer button. Best for random arrival order when you can't predict who's coming next.

Bib Press

With a start list loaded, athlete name buttons appear on screen. Tap the name to instantly record the split. Best when you can anticipate arrivals.

Advanced Features

  • Lap Tracking: Tap the same bib number multiple times to record laps. The results screen shows individual lap times and cumulative totals.
  • Custom Start Times: Import a start list CSV with staggered start times. The app calculates net time relative to each athlete's individual start.
  • Edit & Reassign: Long-press any result to change the time, reassign to a different bib, or delete it.
  • Share Live: Tap the radio icon to publish a live results link and (optionally) let a second phone time the race as a co-timer.
  • Team Highlighting: Add your team name(s) in Settings so your athletes stand out in the results list.
  • Athlete Highlighting: Select up to 5 individual athletes to track for focused coaching feedback.
Split timing is ideal for interval-start races, training runs, hill repeats, and recording checkpoint times anywhere on the course.

2. Race Timing (Finish Line Timing)

For timing at the finish line with a single start time for all athletes.

Note: This feature is not designed as a professional timing solution. For major races, use a professional timing service (like Webscorer). Race Timing mode is best for team time trials, small races, club events, and backup timing.

  1. Switch to Race Timing

    Select "Race Timing" in Settings. Note: switching modes resets any active session, so save first.

  2. Upload a start list (optional)

    Import a CSV file for athlete names and teams, or time by bib number only.

  3. Set up the start

    Enter the first racer's bib number and verify the start interval (0s for mass start, or 15/30s for intervals).

  4. Press Start

    Hit the Start button at the exact moment the first racer departs or the mass start gun fires.

  5. Time finishers

    Enter each athlete's bib as they cross the finish line. Save and export when complete.

Advanced Features

  • Unknown Entries: Tap without a bib to capture the time. Assign bibs later from the results screen — the time is preserved.
  • DNF/DNS: Mark athletes as Did Not Finish or Did Not Start from the results action menu (long-press a result).
  • Custom Start Times: Upload a CSV with individual start times for staggered or wave starts. Net times are calculated automatically.
  • Bib Press Mode: With a start list loaded, tap athlete name buttons for instant recording — no numpad needed.
  • Export: Share results as text via message or email, or save to your Events list.
Race timing works best for mass-start events. For interval starts, use Split Timing mode — it handles staggered starts natively.

3. Team Time Trial Timing

Designed specifically for coaches running timed practice sessions. No bibs needed — athletes are identified by name.

What you need: A roster of athletes. Build one in the app, or create one on nordicracetrace.com (recommended — it syncs to the app automatically).

  1. Select Team Time Trial

    Choose "Team Time Trial" in Settings.

  2. Build your start list

    Tap "Start List" and add athletes from your roster. Drag to set the expected finish order.

  3. Filter by gender (optional)

    Use the gender filter to run boys and girls separately without rebuilding the list.

  4. Start timing

    Tap Start when athletes begin. Then tap each athlete's name button as they cross the finish.

  5. Save results

    Tap the download icon → "Save to Events" to store results. A popup lets you rename the event before saving.

Advanced Features

  • No Bibs: Athletes are identified by name, not bib number. Perfect for practice — no bibs to hand out.
  • Drag to Reorder: Arrange athletes in expected finish order before starting. Makes it easy to tap names quickly as they come in.
  • Recurring Events: On the website, create a recurring event (e.g., "Weekly 5K Time Trial") and add results from each session. Track progress with all-time standings and personal bests.
  • Position Numbers: Each athlete shows their position. Numbers update automatically after reordering.
  • Gender Filter: Time boys and girls separately without rebuilding your start list.
Build your roster on the website first. When you log in to the app, your roster is already there — no re-entry needed.

4. Start Lists & Rosters

How to get athlete data into the app for faster, smarter timing.

Building a Start List in the App

  • Tap "Start List" on the timer screen to open the builder.
  • Add athletes manually by entering name and bib number.
  • Import from a CSV file — the app accepts flexible formats with columns like Bib, Name (or First/Last), Team, and Start Time. Headers are matched automatically.
  • Import from PDF — use the website's Start List Converter to extract data from a PDF start list.
  • Drag athletes to reorder. The order determines the layout in Bib Press mode.

Pre-Made Start Lists

  • Check nordicracetrace.com/csv-start-lists for pre-made CSV files from Bullitt Timing for Eastern Cup and EISA races.
  • For other races, convert PDF start lists using the website's converter tool or an AI tool like Claude.

Website Rosters (for Team Time Trials)

  • Create a team account on nordicracetrace.com and build your roster there.
  • Add athletes with name, gender, and graduation year.
  • Log in to the app from Settings — your roster syncs automatically.
  • In Team Time Trial mode, your website roster becomes your start list.
Building your roster on the website saves time and ensures consistency. Manage it once, use it everywhere.

5. Website Features

The website complements the app with team management, result history, and sharing tools.

Creating a Team

  1. Sign in

    Go to nordicracetrace.com and sign in with Google.

  2. Create your team

    Create a new team with your team or club name.

  3. Build your roster

    Add athletes with name, gender, and graduation year. This roster syncs to the app.

Managing Results

  • View all saved time trial results on your team page.
  • Import historical results from CSV files if you have past data.
  • Create recurring events to group multiple sessions of the same time trial.
  • Each recurring event shows: All-Time Standings (best times across all sessions), Per-Date Results (each session), and Personal Bests.

Recurring Events

  • Create a recurring event with a name and optional distance (e.g., "Weekly 5K Time Trial").
  • Each time you run the time trial, add a new instance with that session's results.
  • All-Time Standings ranks athletes by their best-ever time across all sessions.
  • Personal Bests shows each athlete's best performance.
  • Per-Date view shows results from each individual session.

Sharing Results

  • Generate unique shareable links for your full team results, any recurring event series, or any single time trial.
  • Click the share icon next to any event or use "Share All" in the results header.
  • Anyone with the link can view results — no login required.
  • Links are unique and unguessable — only people you share with can access them.
  • Share via text, email, social media, or post anywhere.

Start List Converter

  • Upload a PDF race start list from any race organizer.
  • The tool extracts athlete data and lets you map columns to fields (bib, name, team, start time).
  • Preview and adjust the data, then import directly to the app.
The website and app work together. Build your roster online, time with the app, upload results, and share with parents and athletes.

6. Share Live & Co-timers

Publish your results in real time so anyone can follow along, and (optionally) let a second phone time the race alongside yours. Times from both phones merge automatically.

  1. Tap Share Live

    On the timer screen, tap the radio icon and choose Share Live Results. The app creates a public live-results link and a private Co-timer Code.

  2. Share the public link

    Send the live link to parents, athletes, and fans so they can follow results from any phone or computer — no login, no refresh needed.

  3. (Optional) Add a second phone as a co-timer

    On the second phone, open NordicRaceTrace and tap Share Live → Join as Co-timer. Enter the Co-timer Code from the primary phone. Both phones now record times to the same race and merge automatically.

  4. Review & Publish when the race ends

    After stopping the race the app offers a Review & Publish link. That opens the merge page on the website where you can combine times from multiple phones, assign unmatched bibs, edit times, and publish final results.

Why run two phones?

  • A safety net at the finish line — if one phone misses a bib, the other catches it.
  • Split finish-line and split-point timing across two people.
  • Merging happens automatically; any conflicts are easy to resolve on the web merge page.
Only share your Co-timer Code with people you trust — it allows them to record times on your race.

7. Settings & Customization

Fine-tune the app to match your timing workflow.

Timing Mode

  • Split Timing: For on-course timing with interval starts.
  • Race Timing: For finish-line timing with a single start.
  • Team Time Trial: For practice sessions with your team roster.

Entry Mode

  • Number Pad: Type bib numbers manually. Default mode.
  • Bib Press: Tap athlete name buttons to record instantly. Requires a start list.

Start Interval

  • 0 seconds: Mass start — all athletes start together.
  • 15 seconds: 15-second interval starts.
  • 30 seconds: 30-second intervals (most common for Nordic).
  • Custom: Upload a start list with individual start times for non-standard formats.

Sound & Haptics

  • Choose Click, Beep, or None for timing confirmation sounds.
  • Choose Light, Medium, Heavy, or None for haptic feedback.
  • Both provide tactile/audio confirmation when you record a time.

Team & Athlete Highlighting

  • Add team names to highlight your athletes in race results with color coding.
  • Select up to 5 individual athletes for focused tracking during timing.

Coach Login

  • Sign in with Google to connect to your website team.
  • Your roster syncs from the website to the app automatically.
  • Required for Team Time Trial mode with a website roster.

Bib Press Confirmation

  • When enabled, a confirmation popup appears after each bib press tap to prevent accidental entries.
  • Disable in Settings if you prefer faster entry without confirmation.

8. Tips & Tricks

Get the most out of NordicRaceTrace with these power-user tips.

  • Use the interval timer (Settings > Default Interval) to get audio/haptic cues at regular intervals — great for pacing and knowing when the next athlete should start.
  • For large races with start lists, Bib Press mode is significantly faster than typing bib numbers.
  • Long-press any result to edit the time, reassign to a different bib, or delete it.
  • Export results as text to quickly share via message or email right from the results screen.
  • Save events after every session — they're stored locally and available anytime from the Events tab.
  • Build your roster on the website once, then it's always available in the app via coach login.
  • Use recurring events on the website to track athlete improvement over the season.
  • Share results links with parents after each practice — it builds engagement and keeps athletes motivated.
  • Tap Share Live to publish a live results link and let parents, fans, and co-timers follow or time with you in real time.
  • Use the "Restart Welcome Tour" button in app Settings to replay the intro walkthrough.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions.

I accidentally tapped the wrong bib. How do I fix it?
Long-press the result to open the action menu. You can reassign it to the correct bib, edit the time, or delete it.
I missed entering a bib number but got the time. What do I do?
Just tap without entering a bib. It saves as "Unknown." Go to results later and assign the correct bib — the time is preserved.
My start list isn't showing athlete names.
Make sure your CSV has headers like "Bib", "Name" (or "First"/"Last"), and "Team." The app auto-detects common header names.
How do I switch between timing modes?
Go to Settings and select the mode you want. Note: switching modes resets your active timing session, so save your results first.
Share Live isn't working.
Check your internet connection. Share Live requires an active connection to publish results to the server.
My roster isn't showing in the app.
Make sure you're logged in via Settings > Coach Login. Your roster syncs from the website when you sign in.
Can I time multiple checkpoints on the same course?
Yes! Have a timer at each checkpoint, each running their own instance of the app. Results can be combined afterward.
Does the app work offline?
Yes — all timing works offline. Results are stored locally on your device. Live sharing and roster sync require an internet connection.

Ready to get started?

Download the app and try timing your next race or practice.

Download on the App Store