EW’s Outdoors Issue 2012
Ready to Dash?
One of summer’s dirtiest outdoor events comes
to Eugene this July
By Stacey M. Hollis
I
n a crowd of writhing bodies that slip, splash, squirm
and somersault through nearly 4 miles of muck, it
won’t take long before you fi nd yourself face down in
a mud puddle the size of a small pond. Sound like fun?
Welcome to Eugene’s First Annual Dirty Dash!
People of all ages can come out Saturday, July 21, and
make their way through a mud-streaked obstacle course that
holds a surprise around every turn. Costumes are encouraged.
But for those who aren’t up to jumping slippery walls,
climbing through mucky tunnels or walking thin planks placed
mines.” And perhaps best of all, the ever-popular “beer
chug” obstacle is being sponsored this year by Ninkasi.
“So, for all those who can drink, there’ll be a chug of beer,”
Malfatto says. “And for those who can’t, we’re going to have
root beer.”
The Dash will take place in the North Bottomlands area
of Howard Buford Recreation Area, the site of such events
as Faerieworlds and a recent Civil War Reenactment. “We’re
used to having thousands of people out there,” says Dave
Stockdale, senior parks analyst for Lane County Parks.
Not only will the race be held in such a
prime spot for muddy shenanigans, but there’s
also been a great deal of “due diligence” done
to ensure the safety of the natural ecosystem,
according to Stockdale.
“We’ve made sure that water doesn’t
run off into the river,” he says. “And we’re
establishing catch basins for mud to go when
people wash off.” Dashers can pass through
stations that “wash you down to make sure
there’s no transfer of species or seeds going
where they aren’t suppose to be going.” This
acts as a precaution against the spread of invasive species
such as Scotch broom, which can crowd out native species,
Stockdale says.
And while thousands upon thousands of muddy
feet trampling all over the place may seem like an
environmentalist’s worst nightmare, it may be just what
the eco-doctor called for. “It should serve the park well in
some anticipated developments,” Stockdale says. “Instead
of spending county time and resources, we’re going to use
The Dirty Dash has been great
to work with, they’re fl exible
and great stewards of the land.
— Dave Stockdale
across sludgy mud pits, there’s always great entertainment in
watching hordes of stringy haired, mud-smeared dashers as
they tumble their way through the gauntlet.
The Dirty Dash might seem like some fantasy, but
it really does exist, thanks to John Malfatto, creator of
the event. Malfatto began this traveling, mud-slathered,
obstacle-bedecked race three years ago. He wanted to give
a broad spectrum of people the chance to participate. Instead
of something more “hardcore” and competitive, Malfatto
wanted to build a fun and family-oriented
race. “It’s more focused on involving anyone
who’d want to run or walk, and just have a
good time with friends,” he says.
Initially held in Salt Lake City and Boise,
Idaho, the Dash’s fi rst year saw such success
that it’s since expanded to ten locations
across seven western states. This year will be
Oregon’s fi rst chance to shine as one of four newly added
locations. “We knew Eugene would be a good market and
it’s starting to prove that,” Malfatto says. Four thousand
participants have signed up for the Eugene race.
When asked his favorite obstacle, Malfatto names the
200-foot-long slip-and-slide. “It’s the biggest infl atable slip-
and-slide that we know of, made especially for the Dirty
Dash.” And it’s had some updating: “We revamped it quite a
bit,” he says. “It’s going to be a lot faster.”
New obstacles premiering this year include a mud
waterfall and something Malfatto mysteriously calls “mud
PHOTO COURTESY THE DIRTY DASH
The best obstacle really is the
slip and slide — John Malfatto
human foot-traffi c to create a six-to-eight-foot horse trail, so
we’ll kill two birds with one stone with that,” he adds.
A fee of one to one-and-a-half percent of the Dirty Dash’s
total revenue will be paid to Lane County Parks as a “natural
areas fee.” This money will be reinvested back into Buford
to repair any damage incurred from the event. “They’re
keeping a pretty good tab on us,” Dash creator Malfatto says,
“but we feel like it’s really worth it.”
“The Dirty Dash has been great to work with,” Stockdale
says. “They’re fl exible and great stewards of the land.” ew
For more on the Dirty Dash, go to www.thedirtydash.com/races/eugene.html
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