The DUMPSTER DASH sponsored by the Corner Pub at East Decatur Station in Decatur, GA (about six miles east of Five Points in downtown Atlanta) is the WORLD'S FIRST and still the WORLD'S BEST Dumpster Dash.
It's a simple 200 yard sprint, run over a 100 yard paved course (down to a dumpster and back).
The 2008 Season is now open, with race officials (necessary for safety, accuracy, and documentation) available from 6 to 8PM EST almost every Tuesday (primary race day) and Thursday (when the track is not wet). Anyone of any age, gender, or condition can run. Winners are ranked in decade/gender classes.
The amazing photo in the header post illustrates are are times in the running cycle when neither of a runner's feet are touching the ground.
Back in the 1800s, people argued whether there was a point in the running cycle of a horse when none of the four hoofs touched the ground.
Some argued it was not possible for a 2-ton animal to be airborne. Leland Stanford, oil barron, founder of Stanford University, and Governor of California, argued to the contrary. He solicited the help of one Eadweard Muybridge (born Edward James Muggeridge), who proved his point with a photo (since lost) in 1877 and followed by a full studio of the running cycle of the horse.
To understand how it is possible for a 2-ton horse or a roughly 1/8 ton person to be airborne at some point when at a full gate, you have to understand some engineering principles, which we'll not delve into here.
Around 6:45P on Tuesday, 7/1/2008; Dylan (in her early 40s?) beat "Dumpster" Dave (62 years + 8 mos.) in the Dumpster Dash, by about 1.5 car lengths, or about 8-10 yards (see screen freeze frame below), which is about 1.7 to 2 seconds.
It was vaguely reminiscent of the Billy Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs tennis match 35 years ago, on 9/20/1973. In both matches, age differences and physical conditioning were bigger factors than gender.
This marks the first time a woman has crossed the finish line and the first time a woman has won. [The race is open to everyone, regardless of gender or age, but we've only had two female runners previously, despite a number talking about racing someday, but always having a reason why they can't do it on any given day. A number of men also run only with their tongues.]
Dylan participates in the boot camp program in the DHS parking lot every morning [the subject of a 5/11/08 inDECATUR post], where she has been promoted to an instructor/coach. [Dave needs to join either that program or the CrossFit program, covered in a 6/6/08 inDECATUR post..]
Optional commentary (and images of the course) in the continuation.
Nancy took another video off the deck, and Luke took snapshots. Some of them will be added when available.
Dylan got the jump off the line, and set a fast pace downhill. (Dave usually (but not always) allows his opponent to set the downhill pace, just staying within 5-10 yards, assuming he can overpower them uphill.)
The two were about even for at about 2/3 of the way back up. Dylan began to pull away just above where the color of the pavement (and the slope) changes:
Both slowed on the steep slope, but Dave didn't have his usual locomotive-like "passing gear" to take advantage. Dylan gutted it out (showing her superior physical conditioning) and cruised across the finish line as Dave just faded out (showing he needs a better, more frequent exercise program, while losing the beer gut). He took a lot longer to recover, partially because he's out of shape, and partially because he's about two decades older.
Dylan beat Dave by about 8-10 yards and 1.5-2 seconds (the video camera was not held in the right location to record exactly where Dave was when Dylan crossed the finish line (first time video man), and how much later he crossed, and nobody was timing his time with a stopwatch -- hey, we're not quite Olympic quality yet, so we can only estimate).
Dylan showed good running style throughout the race, with none of the sideways hip movements and arm flailing we see in some female runners, and really stretched out those legs to create a long gate for her height.
She clocked 34.75 seconds. [The record time is 27.5 seconds, set by 32-year-old Tate in 95+ degree heat last summer.]
While Dave hates to lose, he's pleased that a woman has broken the gender barrier in the Dumpster Dash, and hopes it will encourage others to run.
Women who will not or cannot run can consider joining the Dumpster Dash cheerleading squad (skimpy outfits are now being designed), and possibly being selected to appear in the Dumpster Dash 2009 Calendar, which will feature both foxes and studs, with proceeds going to charity (to help the Corner Drunks).
Remember, there's still a $100 prize on the table for the first person to run the Dumpster Dash in under 26 seconds (under the supervision of an official Dumpster Dash race crew).
On the evening of Thursday, 6/26/2008, around 9:30PM; Opal (aka "Agent OO?") challenged "Dumpster Dave" (over 20 years older than her, but let's not get too specific) to a Dumpster Dash on or around Halloween 2008. She said she'd be training in the interim.
Halloween is on 10/31, with is a Friday this year. Since the Dumpster Dash is only run on Tuesday and Thursday, we'll schedule it on the following Tuesday, which is 11/4/2008. Thats 131 days (4 mos. 9 days) from today).
Jerry Lee Lewis ("Suryaright!") was a witness.
So it is written, so it shall be (unless she comes up with some excuses later, which is likely.)
Her friend Dylan didn't show up Tuesday or Thursday to race Dave, after saying she would last week.
When Opal said Dylan would be beating Dave, Dave responded: "If tongues could run, I'd have been beat many dozens of more times."
Bethy, Josh's wife, has been talking about running almost from the inception of the race, but never gets around to it.
Dave is not saying he can beat any of these much younger ladies, but he's ready to run just about every Tuesday and Thursday. Like Delta, he's ready when you are.
A woman has yet to cross the finish line in the Dumpster Dash. Doesn't this need to be rectified ASAP, Ladies?
UPDATE: Dylan rectified it on 7/1/08, not only crossing the finish line, but WINNING!
The race is 100 yards down the hill to touch the dumpster on the left, then back uphill to the starting line. Jeremy is the starter and timer. Chrissy is the photographer. Aaron is the downhill traffic guard.
Jeremy (yellow shirt) is standing at the finish line. Gregory has just crossed it. Dave is at his maximum possible closing speed.
Gregory (21) beat "Dumpster Dave" (62.5) by about 2.5 seconds in a running of the Dumpster Dash Thursday evening, 5/22/08. Gregory's official time was 33.5 seconds, well off the record of 27.5 seconds set by 32-year-old Tate in 92-degree heat last summer.
Gregory played football in basketball in HS and is now preparing to join the Navy. His comment on beating a guy almost 3 times his age by 2.5 seconds: "I've got to get in better shape."
See the embedded video of the race in the continuation, if interested.
"Dumpster Dave" (62 1/2 years old) beat Carrie (mid to late 20s or early 30s?) Thursday night in the first Dumpster Dash race of the 2008 season.
It's most appropriate, for Decatur, that the 2008 season start with a cross-gender race between two people of very different ages. Hopefully, the diversity will magnify as the season goes on. The Dumpster Dash is an equal opportunity challenge. There are no restrictions, other than one has to be human (not a race horse, a greyhound, a puma, or something like that).
For anyone not familiar with the Dumpster Dash: You must run 100 yards downhill, touch the middle dumpster, then run 100 yards back uphill, finishing at the start-finish line. It's a 200-yard sprint, complicated by the grade of the track. Oh yeah: You must have drank two adult beverages within one hour before running [a rule which scares off professional runners and helps the Corner Pub recoup the $10 "Dash Cash" prize for the winner in advance -- something Dave will have to receive later, as Angel couldn't find any "Dash Cash" certificates.] As is customary, Dave bought Carrie a Sweetwater 420.
Dave's time was 36.9 seconds, considerably off his best time of 34.5 seconds last year, and well over the record time of 27.5 seconds set by Tate (30 something) last year. (He's out of shape, and really didn't need to shovel in the coals toward the end.)
Carrie stopped at the steps before ever making it back to the finish line, so we have no official time for her.
more details in the continuation, if you're that interested
Luke the Landscaper (left) is the standard starter. Alaina (Carrie's friend) was standing in the middle.
As usual, some Corner Pub patrons (most notably Chrissy, Happy, and Dale) observed the race from the observation deck a the top of the steps. You can hear some of their comments in the video.
Now, "Dumpster Dave," one of the co-founders of the race (and always in
search of excellence, pushing the envelope); is offering a $100 prize to the first person who
can run the Dumpster Dash in 26 seconds, regardless of
temperature. If you're game, show up at the Corner Pub in East Decatur
Station between Commerce and the MARTA crosswalk between 5 and 7PM on
Tuesday or Thursday (when the official Dumpster Dash staff and video crew is on duty). The entry fee is $25, non-refundable.
First string high school and college track team runners, professional athletes, and Olympians are not eligible for the $100 award, but may run to break the record. Drug tests may be requested.
Naturally, the traditional requirement that you drink two alcoholic beverages within 1 hour prior to run time at the Corner Pub is in effect. The usual officials must be present and two stopwatches must be used, with the average counting as the official time.
Should you win, the award money will be awarded at a formal ceremony scheduled for 11/1/2007.
As usual, the Corner Pub will award $10 Dash Cash (spendable for food or drink) to anyone who beats one or more people in an official and serious Dumpster Dash race run in under 50 seconds. Some of the most interesting races have been between up to seven racers over a wide range of ages.
after-run photo at the Corner Pub bar, taken by Robert Elrod
Around 5:30PM on Thursday, 8/16/2007, right in the middle of may be remembered as the longest heat wave in recorded Decatur history; 32-year old Tate (who boxes for exercise) ran the Dumpster Dash in just under 27.5 seconds in 92-degree (in the shade) heat to win $75 (see continuation for details) to be awarded by Dumpster Dave, co-founder of the Dumpster Dash, for the Heat Wave Challenge.
Tate enters the Guinness (Beer) World Book of Records, as the fastest Dumpster Dash runner in history.
Two stopwatches were used and they were off by only 0.12 seconds, which is a time so short one can't start and stop a watch fast enough to get a time reading that low. The stopwatch held by Luke read 27.43 seconds. The one held by David read 27.55 seconds. Variations in reaction time to push the start and stop buttons can amount to the 0.12 second difference. The average is 27.49 seconds, and that will stand as the official record until broken. (That's 7.27 yards/second over 200 yards, incidentally.)
Tate touched the dumpster at about 13.3 seconds [we didn't record an exact time], which is a fast 100-yard downhill run. (The biggest risk in running downhill full speed is the risk of falling forward. The uphill run in just under 14.2 seconds was very impressive.
We want to continue searching for the fastest time humanly possible. Now Dumpster Dave is considering a new challenge award for the first person to run the Dumpster Dash in 26 seconds (shaving another 1.5 seconds off the record). He's thinking anyone attempting it will pay $25 to try, and win $100 if he makes it. (Professional runners, Olympians, and first-string high school and college track stars excluded)
See an image of the Overall and Over The Hill Champions (to date) in the continuation
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