Dumpster Dash

Dylan beats Dave on 7/1/2008

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.

Here's the embedded video:

If you can't see the embed, watch it at YouTube.

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).

Dave beats Carrie to start 2008 Dumpster Dash season

"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.

Tate wins Heat Wave Challenge with half second to spare

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:

JP vs Casey

JP (a GT student) raced Casey around 7PM Tuesday evening. The temperature was a dry 90 degrees.

David served as starter, timer, and incoming traffic guard. Dale served as corner traffic guard.

JP won, clocking 34.00 seconds, to win $10 "Dash Cash." Casey was only about a second behind.

Tate, who said he would run for the $100 challenge (see earlier post), was a no show.

Three races on 7/1/07

On Friday, 7/01/07, there were a record three Dumpster Dashes.

See the illustrated details in the continuation.

 

Bryan edges Joshua in first '07 Dash

The first race of the 2007 Season was held shortly after 6PM on Thursday 3/29.

Byran showed up with his posse about 5:45, making a grand entrance to cheers wearing putrid green shorts, a pinkish tee with some Native American printing, and a red cowboy bandana tied around his hair.

Joshua, dressed far more conservatively, stayed cool.

Both had beers and a shot before the race, meeting to two drink prerequisite.

Luke served as the starter, while David and Spencer served as the upper and lower traffic stoppers, respectively. (It was not a problem, as no traffic showed up during the race.) David was the official timekeeper, and Rudy was the cameraman.

Joshua (35) and Bryan (22) appeared to be going slowly and evenly downhill, but the pace picked up after the touch of the dumpster and turn. 

Joshua held a few lengths lead most of the way up and until about 10 yards before the finish line, at which Bryan turned on the afterburners and passed Joshua by a length at the finish line.

The time was 35.97 seconds, several seconds off the 32.XX record, but not too shabby.

As his final dramatic act, Bryan ripped the tee off his chest.

Rudy (another CP kitchen employee) caught all the action in video and stills. See it at a 20APR2007 DD post.

Bryan was awarded a $10 Dash Cash certificate.

Everyone enjoyed the event, which went smoothly.