diff --git a/app/controllers/main_controller.rb b/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
--- a/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
   before_filter :authenticate, :except => [:index, :login]
   before_filter :check_viewability, :except => [:index, :login]
 
+  append_before_filter :update_user_start_time, :except => [:index, :login]
+
   # COMMENTED OUT: filter in each action instead
   # before_filter :verify_time_limit, :only => [:submit]
 
@@ -319,5 +321,10 @@
     }
   end
 
+  def update_user_start_time
+    user = User.find(session[:user_id])
+    UserContestStat.update_user_start_time(user)
+  end
+
 end