T-rex Race

A T-rex race is a footrace run in inflatable Tyrannosaurus costumes. In Japan the races take place in parks, on beaches and on sports grounds, often as part of a town festival, and the ones held under the rules of the Japan T-Rex Sports Federation are listed as certified races.

History

The race goes back to Emerald Downs, a horse-racing track in Auburn, Washington, in the United States. In 2017 more than 30 runners in dinosaur costumes joined a dash the track holds every year, and a video of the race spread widely online in 2019.

Japan's first T-rex race was held in Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, on 16 April 2022, and races have since spread to towns across the country. The federation, based in Tokyo, writes the rules and certifies races that follow them.

How a race works

Runners compete in two classes: seiju, adult dinosaurs, from junior high school age, and yoju, juvenile dinosaurs, up to elementary school age. Under the federation's rules no part of the person inside may show, so no face, arms or legs, and hands stay out of the costume's small arms. Costumes in unusual designs are not allowed.

As in a human footrace, the finish is judged by the torso. A snout or a claw crossing the line first does not count.

Entering a race

Each race is run by its own organizer, often a tourism association, a park or a shopping street, and entries go through that organizer's form. According to the federation, entry fees range from free to ¥5,500, and ¥2,000 for an adult is common. Few races rent out costumes; where they do, rental costs up to about ¥2,500.