At Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, hundreds of competitors don inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex costumes for the annual T-Rex World Championships, a spectacle now featured on ESPN's The Ocho. What began as a corporate team-building exercise by Tri Guard Pest Control in 2017 has evolved into a global phenomenon drawing 200 runners across men's, women's, youth, and senior "dino dino" divisions.

Track president Phil Ziegler traces the event's lineage from wiener dog and corgi races, which attracted 14,000 fans and national TV attention. The T-Rex concept emerged when Tri Guard employees swapped togas for dinosaur suits, teaching customer service reps "to feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation." A viral 2018 video sparked worldwide coverage, from CNN to Australian outlets and "Ripley's Believe It or Not!".

Tragedy struck in April 2023 when Tri Guard owner Terry Richards, 43, and his son Caleb Tennant died in a plane crash. The company continues sending 30-50 runners annually in Richards' honor. Host Danny New notes winners often can't see the finish line through their bouncing heads. Competitors now travel internationally — one teacher flew in, raced, and returned home the same day at her students' urging.