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
Here's the video clip:
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The condition for the $100 challenge was not quite met. By the time Tate drank the mandatory two beers; some clouds had rolled in (showers had popped up around the area, as near as Conyers, just hours before) and the ambient temperature read on the north wall was only 92 degrees.
David and Tate agreed to go ahead and run the race, with the award reduced to $75 (which was paid on 9/4).
It was a great promotion for the World's original Dumpster Dash race, and sets the standard against which future runners will be measured.
No drug tests were administered after the race.
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Here's a photo of Tate from his earlier race against Dumpster Dave (which he won handily) in 77 degree heat, but some of us doubted the time, as it was kept on a cell phone. Now, we're convinced.
Overall and Over 50 Dumspter Dash Champions
Separated by 30 years in age, 7 seconds (25%) in the Dash
The oldest person to beat "Dumpster Dave," so far, was 48, about 13.5 years younger at the time. If you're older than 48 and think you can beat him, bring it on between 5 and 7 PM on Tuesday or Thursday.
The fastest guy under 30 (so far) was Nick (Kathy's boyfriend), who ran the Dash in 32.18 seconds on 7/31/2006 (the DD record at the time, which Tate has since smashed by over 4 seconds).
We don't have any official times for guys under 20 and under 10. Runners as young as 7 have run, but none under 20 have been clocked yet..
If you think you can beat Tate, regardless of your age, he's ready for you!
It's all about being in reasonably good shape for your age, despite moderate drinking (which even most medical experts say is good for you.)
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