Headstarts
So that people of all ages can compete in this race on a more or less equitable basis some runners are allowed to begin the race before others. The following table indicates how many Headstart minutes each entrant will receive based on gender and age. Headstart minutes are based on years of historical data of actual times and records of male and female runners. Compiled and interpreted by Bill Rus, the race's official handicapper, the information is presented to the committee for review annually. Typically at least eight of the ten top finishers have been from different handicap groups.
2022 Headstarts
Three runners—all men—established new single-age records in 2021.
- Mark Tatum won the race with a single age record of 59:23 at age 61. This time edged Brian Pilcher’s 2019 record by four seconds.
- Brian Pilcher posted 1:01:57 at age 65, replacing Russ Kiernan’s 2003 record of 1:03:03.
- Scratch runner Edward Owens ran 47:48, bettering Alex Varner’s 2014 record of 49:08 at age 28. He placed fourth overall with this year’s best time.
Recommendations for 2022:
This year’s data further confirms small but meaningful age-related adjustments in the handicaps. An extensive review of historical Dipsea trends led to several adjustments in the handicaps.
All adjustments are limited to one minute.
- Men in their 50s and 60s are becoming faster, and earlier records set by a few notable runners – thought to be anomalies – are now the norm. Men’s head starts from age 52 to 70 are reduced by one minute to adjust for this trend.
- Rebalancing of the curve for additional ages is needed.
- For women aged 12 to 40, add one minute to the head start.
- For men aged 19, and those from 26 through 30 and 33 through 37, add one minute.
- I recommend that the committee continue to reduce the head start minutes by one minute for the winners of the last three races:
- Chris Lundy - one minute for winning in 2018,
- Brian Pilcher - one minute for winning in 2019, and
- Mark Tatum - one minute for winning in 2021.
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