Knowledge Base / Race Setup / Timezone Handling

Timezone Handling

Last updated: March 2026

Overview

Racery uses a dual-timezone system: each racer operates in their own local timezone, while all admin-facing tools display in Eastern Standard Time (EST). This allows global organizations to run a single race across multiple time zones without anyone missing their start or end time.

Racer Timezone

Each racer selects their timezone during registration. This selection determines:

  • Race start: The race begins at midnight in the racer’s selected timezone
  • Race end: The race closes at midnight in the racer’s selected timezone
  • Activity logging: Backdating deadlines respect the racer’s local time

Example: A racer in Hong Kong and a racer in New York both participate in the same race. The Hong Kong racer’s race starts at midnight Hong Kong time, while the New York racer’s race starts at midnight Eastern time.

Admin Timezone (EST)

All administrator-facing information is displayed in EST (Eastern Standard Time). This includes:

  • Dashboard data and reports
  • Announcement email scheduling
  • Milestone email triggers
  • Activity timestamps in admin views
Important: The admin timezone cannot be changed. It is always EST, regardless of where the race organizer is located. This keeps all administrative information standardized across global races.

Scheduling Gotcha

When scheduling announcement emails, the time you enter is interpreted as EST. If you are on the West Coast and try to schedule an email for 8:00 AM, you are scheduling it for 8:00 AM EST (5:00 AM Pacific). If it is already past 8:00 AM EST, the system will reject the time as “in the past.”

Race End & Timezone

Race end times are timezone-aware for individual racers, but there are important details to know:

  • Login required: The system checks the racer’s timezone only when the racer is logged in. If a racer is not logged in, the race page may show “Race closed” even if the race is still open in their local timezone.
  • Team start times: Team start times are not timezone-aware in all cases. Contact team@racery.com if you need help with team timing across zones.

Common Issues

“I can’t log activity — the race says it’s closed”

Make sure you are logged in. The system uses your registered timezone to determine if the race is still open. Without logging in, it falls back to server time, which may show the race as closed.

“My scheduled email was rejected as ‘in the past’”

All scheduling uses EST. Convert your desired send time to Eastern time before entering it in the dashboard.

“Can I change the admin timezone to Pacific / Central / etc.?”

No. The admin timezone is fixed at EST for consistency across all races and organizers. This prevents confusion when Racery support assists with your race.

Related Articles

Your First Race — Complete walkthrough including registration and timezone selection.
Announcement Email Dashboard — Schedule and send emails to participants.

Contact support if you have questions.

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