Race Timer
A Race countdown timer runs timed rounds with a break between them and rings a bell at every change, so you can run a race, a relay or a series of sprints without touching the keyboard. This page opens the timer already configured, so you press start and the first round begins.
One minute rounds with half a minute of rest between them, and a bell at every change.
How to Use the Race Countdown Timer
Open the race timer
This page opens the race already configured: one minute rounds, thirty seconds of rest, five rounds. Press start and the first round begins.
Check the numbers
Open the interval settings if the race is longer or shorter, and change the round and the rest times before you start.
The bell calls the change
A bell rings when a round ends and another when the rest ends, so the racers move on the same signal.
The display faces the crowd
Put the screen where the runners and the spectators can see it, so the round number and the remaining time are never a mystery.
Why Use This Race Timer
A bell at every change
The end of a round and the start of the rest are both announced, so nobody has to watch the screen to know when to move.
Round and phase on the display
The timer shows which round you are in and whether it is the running phase or the resting one.
Five rounds ready to go
One minute of running, thirty seconds of rest, five rounds. Change the numbers if your challenge timer or game timer needs a different shape.
Full screen for the whole room
The digits fill the display, so the runners on the track and the crowd in the hall see the same clock.
Where This Timer Helps
A race is two clocks in one: the time it takes to run and the time you are allowed to recover. Get the second one wrong and the race turns into a queue at the finish line, with everyone waiting for the runner who stopped too early.
This race timer runs one minute rounds with a rest of thirty seconds between them and five rounds in total, which is the usual shape of a school race, a sports day or a set of sprints. The bell rings every time the phase changes, so the runners and the coach hear the same signal.
Tips for making the most of it
- Set the round length to the distance you are running, not to the distance you would like to run.
- Give the rest the same respect as the round. Short rests turn into a slow start every single time.
- Stand the display where everybody can see it, so the bell is a signal and not a surprise.
Race Timer: Frequently Asked Questions
How does the race timer work?
It runs the rounds on its own: one minute of running, then thirty seconds of rest, five times over. It is a sports timer for the school yard. The bell rings when each phase ends and the screen shows the round number, so a race can be run without anybody touching a device.
Can I change the length of the rounds?
Yes. Open the timer and change the work and the rest values to whatever your race needs. The defaults here, one minute and thirty seconds with five rounds, suit a short sprint or a relay in a school race.
Is there a countdown to the start?
The first minute is the countdown to the start as well as the first round, so the racers are already under the clock when the bell rings. For a separate countdown to the start, open the five second timer and use it before the race.
Other Countdown Timer Lengths
Need a different duration? Every one of these opens the same timer with the length already set.
40-20 HIIT timer
The classic forty twenty interval: work for forty seconds, rest for twenty, and keep going.
Interval timer
An interval timer runs work and rest rounds for you, so the only thing you have to do is start and keep going.
1 minute timer
A single minute, counted down on screen as large as you need. Press start and the digits fill the screen.
5 minute timer
Five minutes is the most useful short interval there is. It is long enough to get something done and short enough to actually do it.
All Countdown Timer Lengths
| Duration | Countdown timer | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | 1 minute timer | Quick tasks and speed rounds |
| 2:00 | 2 minute timer | Short transitions and quick reviews |
| 3:00 | 3 minute timer | Timeboxing a small task |
| 5:00 | 5 minute timer | Pomodoro breaks and quick reviews |
| 10:00 | 10 minute timer | Short focus blocks and power naps |
| 15:00 | 15 minute timer | Study sprints and short meetings |
| 20:00 | 20 minute timer | Focused work between meetings |
| 30:00 | 30 minute timer | Deep work blocks |
| 45:00 | 45 minute timer | Long focus sessions |
| 1:00:00 | 1 hour timer | One hour sessions and classes |
| 1:30:00 | 90 minute timer | Classes, workshops and seminars |
| 2:00:00 | 2 hour timer | Events and long sessions |
| 3:00:00 | 3 hour timer | Half day sessions |
| 24:00:00 | 24 hour timer | Counting down to a deadline |
| 5:00 | 5 minute break timer | Short breaks between tasks |
| 10:00 | 10 minute break timer | Breaks between work blocks |
| 10:00 | 10 minute meditation timer | Meditation and breathing |
| 0:40 | 40-20 HIIT timer | HIIT circuit training |
| 0:30 | 30-30 Tabata timer | Tabata intervals |
| 0:05 | 5 seconds timer | Instant countdowns and reveals |
| 0:40 | Interval timer | Custom work and rest intervals |
| 20:00 | Presentation timer | Speaker and presentation pacing |
| 60:00 | Exam timer | Exams and tests |
| 365d | Event date timer | Counting down to any date |
| 1:00 | Quiz timer | Quizzes, tests and class rounds |
| 5:00 | Traffic Light timer | Classroom activities and lessons |
| 5:00 | Alarm timer | Everyday alarms and routines |
| 5:00 | Visual timer | Classroom activities and lessons |
| 1:00 | Race timer | Sports, races and training |
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