A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag assembly in a timed event including in the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag assembly having a spacer having a thickness of between about 0.125 inches and about 0.5 inches, placing the RFID tag assembly in a position relative to the operating surface of the body a minimum spaced apart distance, receiving at the first side of the two sided planar antenna a first portion of the radio frequency energy as direct energy as transmitted from the antenna of the base station transceiver, receiving at the second side of the two-sided planar antenna a second portion of the radio frequency energy as indirect energy as transmitted from the base station transceiver antenna, the second portion of the radio frequency energy being received at the predetermined operating frequency, and processing the received first and second portions of the radio frequency energy.