Saturday, October 8, 2011
Noon, Student Fitness Center
Founded by an Illinois State alum, the Great Urban Race is an international urban adventure race appearing in 20 major cities across the U.S. and Illinois State is proud to host the only campus version of the Great Urban Race during Homecoming weekend. Participants are required to form teams of two to four people in order to solve clues and complete mental and physical challenges while discovering a city. At the start of the Great Urban Race, teams are given an envelope containing 12 clues. The clue sheet contains a mixture of challenges and is designed to expose participants to local businesses within the community in a fresh, new way. Clue examples incorporate:
- Physical challenges: Feed your teammate some tasty food, do something daring, or compete in a game, mazes, Segways, Tae Kwon Do lessons, bicycle races, holding huge fish, canoeing. These and many other activities were used during the 2009 season
- Puzzles and brain teasers: anagrams, word searches, cryptograms, and crosswords
- Interaction with the general public: sing to a stranger, take photos with men with mustaches
The course is designed so the winners should finish in 1.5–3 hours, the majority in 3–4 hours, and the race course is shut down after 5 hours. The distance of the race depends what route participants take. Teams may only travel by foot or public transit, which includes buses, trains, subways, and public trolleys. Registration varies based on location, but attendance typically ranges from 600 participants to 1,500 participants.
The Great Urban race not only challenges the racers physically and mentally, but also creatively. Racers can dress up in any fashion they see fit that allows them to compete. Special awards are set aside for those who are the most creative.
Can’t wait — this was a ton of fun last year. Glad to see it is coming back!