Planning a Theme Activity for 2009 -- INFO & HELP NEEDED

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:46 pm

I'm planning a community activity - an Evolution-themed Fun Run - and need a primer on getting plugged into the BM organization, getting my event publicized, recruiting helpers, etc.

Can you help?

Thanks!
- Java Man

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:48 am

This is the place, I guess.

Tell us more about your ideas.

Where are you from?

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:41 pm

Talk about your oxymorons: fun run. And here I am training for the Boston Marathon.

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:34 pm

Here's the concept:
- Humans can outrun any animal on the planet over long distances
- We may not be the fastest or the strongest, but we can run every other animal to exhaustion. (Then we kill and eat them.)
- This is due to our bipedal upright gait and ability to control our core temperature through sweating.
- The key to maintaining our balance while running, in the absence of a tail, is our gluteus maximus muscle - relatively large for an ape.
- We evolved large glutes and this conveyed a hunting advantage.

We survived and thrived and evolved as a species in part because we grew big ass muscles that allowed us to run and hunt really well.

So I want to organize a fun run that celebrates our wonderful asses.

Sound crazy? Of course it does!

But what could be better than rallying all the runners on the playa in a celebration of the human gluteus maximus?!

Just imagine the possibilities in this!

From Discover Magazine:
http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/tramps-like-us

The Research:
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~raichlen/Dav ... al2006.pdf

SUMMARY
The human gluteus maximus is a distinctive muscle in
terms of size, anatomy and function compared to apes and
other non-human primates. Here we employ
electromyographic and kinematic analyses of human
subjects to test the hypothesis that the human gluteus
maximus plays a more important role in running than
walking. The results indicate that the gluteus maximus is
mostly quiescent with low levels of activity during level
and uphill walking, but increases substantially in activity
and alters its timing with respect to speed during running.
The major functions of the gluteus maximus during
running are to control flexion of the trunk on the stanceside
and to decelerate the swing leg; contractions of the
stance-side gluteus maximus may also help to control
flexion of the hip and to extend the thigh. Evidence for
when the gluteus maximus became enlarged in human
evolution is equivocal, but the muscleâ€™s minimal functional
role during walking supports the hypothesis that
enlargement of the gluteus maximus was likely important
in the evolution of hominid running capabilities.

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:42 pm

A funrun is a good idea. Post the event on the calender. I'd recommend a dawn or sundown event when heat is less. If a perimeter run, I'd also think about rest/aid/water points along the route at the pentagon corners. You could just run laps around CenterCamp Tent. Expect chaos...

Post signs at Info Center, Media Mecca. There a many different parades, this one will just move a little faster. Gorilla suits , caveman outfits, run the guantlet scenarios..Barbarions v. Romans, the mind wanders....

Or just start/end it at the med tent...

Remember that cavemen didn't have to outrun the beasty, they just had to outrun their neighbor... The slowpokes got et'. Natural selection is fastest served by horrific events rather than slow mutation. The survivors who could run down the horse got breakfast. Competition drove the slowpokes to the Iberian Peninsula recent discoveries have found. You know the old Cro-magnon v. Neanderthal Debate.

In Zimbabway (old Rhodesia ), life expectancy is now less than 35. Women who need cessarians simply die. Hospitals are closed. Cholera is rampant. Its a nightmare, I've heard...I suppose the survivors will be tough as nails, or simply die off. Cruel I know , but nature is heartless. But those Olympic runners, my God, they can move.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:38 pm

javaman wrote:The human gluteus maximus is a distinctive muscle in
terms of size, anatomy and function compared to apes and
other non-human primates. Here we employ
electromyographic and kinematic analyses of human
subjects to test the hypothesis that the human gluteus
maximus plays a more important role in running than
walking. The results indicate that the gluteus maximus is
mostly quiescent with low levels of activity during level
and uphill walking, but increases substantially in activity
and alters its timing with respect to speed during running.
The major functions of the gluteus maximus during
running are to control flexion of the trunk on the stanceside
and to decelerate the swing leg; contractions of the
stance-side gluteus maximus may also help to control
flexion of the hip and to extend the thigh. Evidence for
when the gluteus maximus became enlarged in human
evolution is equivocal, but the muscleâ€™s minimal functional
role during walking supports the hypothesis that
enlargement of the gluteus maximus was likely important
in the evolution of hominid running capabilities.

Are you trying to be an ass?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:05 pm

- Humans can outrun any animal on the planet over long distances

If you test that theory with dogs or bears, I'm sure discovery will sponsor you for their "it doesn't have to be good, just cheap to make" series.
I would watch that.

And there is a theory that upright stance began in trees.
Of course, balance matters there.

anthony paul · Post by **anthony paul** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:21 am

*rubs chin*

Interesting...

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:49 am

Maybe I'll bring some wild cheetahs and the runners see if they can survive.

Dawn is verl cool weather, but I doubt if many people will be awake to see it.
A run along the Promenade or Embarcadero (or whatever they're calling it this year) would be a good spectator sport.
But a run at midnight straight into the Deep Playa would be a trip for the runners.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:13 am

It should start with everyone rolling and scooting on the ground for a mile, then slithering like snakes for a mile, then belly crawling, then on all fours, then knuckle walking, then hunching, then running and ultimately attempting to fly. An eight mile race. At each transition, everyone mates with a different partner, or sticks their head in a microwave for a minute, or wanders off in the wrong direction.

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:25 am

[quote="chiefdanfox"]It should start with everyone rolling and scooting on the ground for a mile, then slithering like snakes for a mile, then belly crawling, then on all fours, then knuckle walking, then hunching, then running and ultimately attempting to fly. An eight mile race. At each transition, everyone mates with a different partner, or sticks their head in a microwave for a minute, or wanders off in the wrong direction.[/quote]

only the first half of runners at each mile marker get to mate

presumably, they brought home the bacon

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:58 pm

if the run will celebrate the gluteus maximus, doesn't it makes sense to require that said muscles be bare? how can we celebrate them if the runners have them covered up? runners have such nice ones, too.

that would also make the mating easier...

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:17 pm

Zackly!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:45 am

Hey what about an obstacle course?

To symbolize our barbarian forebears' awesome climb from barbarism to civilization - and back to barbarism again?

littleflower · Post by **littleflower** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:35 pm

watch out for the last step ..........

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:45 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:Hey what about an obstacle course?

To symbolize our barbarian forebears' awesome climb from barbarism to civilization - and back to barbarism again?

yeah, only two steps though..........