Assigning bib numbers to your athletes

How do I assign bibs to everyone at once?

Use a range from your athlete roster. You give three things:

• A start number, for example 100.
• An optional prefix, such as H for your half marathon.
• An optional pad width, so 7 becomes 007 and your numbers sort correctly.

The range walks your roster in order and assigns from there. Assign per ticket type when you want each distance in its own block, which is what makes a bib readable as "that is a half runner" from across the finish line.

Can I fix a single athlete?

Yes. Assign a bib directly on any entry, at any time, including on race morning after a reissue. A single assignment overrides whatever the range gave that athlete.

Why do bibs matter beyond timing?

Because bib search is how most athletes find their photos. Every photo is read for bib digits, so a clean, correctly-recorded bib number turns into a photo match automatically.

Two things help materially:

• Pad your numbers. 007 reads more reliably than 7 on a moving runner.
• Fix reissues in PodiumBase, not just on paper. An athlete wearing a bib we have recorded against someone else gets the wrong person's photos, and that is a support ticket you will hear about.

When should I assign?

Late enough that your roster has stopped moving, early enough to print. Most organizers assign after registration closes and before packet pickup. If you assign earlier, expect to fix a handful by hand as transfers and late entries land.

What about athletes who register on race day?

Assign them a bib individually from the roster as they check in. Keep a reserved block outside your main range for exactly this, so a walk-up never collides with a printed bib.