Today Chicago became an urban playground for teams of two as they made their way through a series of challenges. I participated in this challenge for free thanks to @Metromix and teamed up with a friend from my sorority, @Jenls215.
Here was the day:
9:00am – Introductions and how it worked.
Assembled in Daley Plaza. A woman from Fitness Formula warmed up the thousand participants in stretching exercises. The MC previewed the challenges – “Chase Points” – by having a team come on the platform to take a shot of fish eggs and another to sing Frank Sintra’s “Chicago”. Finally – Chase City assisted a participate in proposing to his 5 year girlfriend.
Rules are announced:
- Only transportation methods allowed were CTA buses and trains as well as walking. No bikes, cabs, car rides from friends, etc.
- You had to complete 10 “Chase Points” throughout the city.
- You were allowed to use blackberries and iPhones as well as call people to look up things on the internet.
- First place got an all expenses paid trip to Quebec City to compete in the national City Chase championships.
10am – the race starts.
In order to get your clue list, the MC gave us a list of 10 items, 8 of which we needed to find and bring back to be rewarded the list. Items were not to be returned. What we provided are bolded:
Something that has expired - a Friday, August 21st Red Eye found in a newspaper stand.
The flight status of any Southwest flight – my gentleman friend looked one up for us and emailed it to me.
The Chase City logo drawn around the belly button of each teammate with red lipstick – purchased bright red lip gloss that was red tinted in color from Borders at State and Randolph.
A ticket stub
Any US Currency with your team number on it – allowed other teams to use our lip gloss for $1 a take. We used one the the dollar bills we got and wrote 175 on its face.
Anything that you would associate with sex - bought whipped cream at the Walgreens on Washington just east of Dearborn.
The current temperature in the city where the World City Chase competition (Sao Paulo, Argentina) – Jenne looked it up on her iPhone.
Something with the 2010 Olympic logo – took a picture of a flag that was hanging in the lobby of an office building across the street from the Walgreens with used.
A tatoo - took a picture of the tatoo on my ankle.
Anything written in a foreign language - bought a French newspaper from the Borders we got the lip gloss.
In the frenzy of gathering the goods we actually gathered 9 – we didn’t realize this at the time.
Chase Point One – 901 West Roosevelt Road, UIC Swimming Pool
Travels: #60 bus from State/Madison to Racine/Taylor
Hint: A mirror image of yoU and what you’ll do at thIs state sChool. It’s in the same building with the s_i_m_n_ _0_l. (l, m, w, g, o, p)
Task: Perform 5 steps in synchronized swimming.
Chase Point Two – 1331 W Adams St, Skinner Park
Travels: walked west on Roosevelt to Ashland, took #9 Ashland bus to Adams.
Hint: From ballgames to festivals they sometimes ride you home. We’re using in a game and we hope you’re in the zone. Near Adams and Loomis is where the wheels will roll as you help your teammate take it to the goal.
Task: On a bike that pulls are cart to carry people (like the ones on Clark Street in Wrigleyville), do one lap around a two basketball courts while carrying your partner in the cart. The person in the cart then has to make a basket from the cart as the cart continues to circle the two courts. Once that teammate makes a basket, the teammates switch roles and the second player has to make a basket.
Chase Point Three – 1501 W Randolph, Union Park
Travels: walked west on Monroe to Ashland, entered park at northwest entrance.
Hint: Don’t look for a Pitchfork today by the Green. On the Near West Side the address starts with 15.
Task: Each teammate had to run ten hurdles to a finish line and then run back to the starting point in a combined total of 2 minutes – we barely made it at 1:58.
Chase Point Four – 1501 W Randolph, Union Park
We received a clue the day before the race. If we raised $40 to an online fundraising account, we printed out a validation and provided it to one of the volunteers at the Union Park challenge.
Chase Point Five – 60 Walton Street, Newberry Library/Washington Park
Travels: Pink line from Ashland to State/Lake, transferred to the Red line. Took red line north to Chicago Ave. Walked north on Dearborn.
Hint: If you think you could write this clue sheet and make it all rhyme. You’ll be able to do this challenge in very little time. In the shadow of the Newberry Library just to that south is where you’ll use your mind and your mouth.
Task: You compete against another team in writing a haiku in 2 minutes choosing from a list of Chicago related topics. The judges choose the best haiku and the winning team advances – we lost the first time.
Chase Point Six – 950 W Armitage Ave, Kincaid’s
Travels: walked north to Clark and Division, got on #70 bus to Sedgwick. Walked north to Schiller and Orleans to the Noble Horse Theater; the line there was backed up 30 minutes and Jenne was getting sneezy from the horses, so we headed to the Sedgwick brown line stop. Took brown line north to Armitage.
Hint: upside down to right side up. It’s all in the way you land the cup. Usually you’d drink but today you’ll eat as you test your skills before a tasty treat. On Armitage is where you should be. Think about City Chase’s pre-event activity.
Task: In 60 seconds, you flip a cup to see how many times you can land it upside down. 0-3 your partner eats some funky beans, 4-8 your partner eats grinded snake, 8+ you partner has to take a shot of fish oil. We got fish sauce because we figured a liquid shot would be easier to take down than something with a texture. We both threw up in the bar immediately and then again outside the bar and I again vomited when we were completing point 9.
Chase Point Seven - 2100 N Hastled, The Blue Jeans Bar
Travels: qalked north on Halsted to Webster.
Hint: Ernest Sewn, Rock & Republic but not G Star. Give forward at The Blue _____ Bar.
Task: You received a promotional item from one of the sponsor charities. You then had to trade the promotional item for a non perishable food item. We walked to Jenne’s sisters apartment at Lill and Wrightwood, made the exchange and documented with a camera as instructed. While we were up there, we completed our eighth point.
Chase Point Eight – 1023 W. Wrightwood Ave, Jonquil Park
Travels: walked west on Wrightwood to Lincoln.
Hint: This park is named after a bulb that blooms in the spring. A sculpture Hunt’s Eagle Columns borders it’s Northeast wing. We hope you’re strong, both you and your buddy, because the team that loses will for sure get muddy.
Task: Mud tug of war against another team.
Chase Point Nine – 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Travels: We had to return our non perishable food items back at Halsted/Webster, so we walked there first and took Burton east to the zoo, then north on Cannon Drive.
Hint: You were given a blue bag but you have to turn it green. Fill it throughout the day as part of your routine. At Peggy Notebeart turn your three pounds in because not recycling would be a sin.
Task: We collected three pounds of recyclable materials and dropped them off at the bins in the Peggy Notebeart parking lot.
Chase Point Ten – 1603 N Lake Shore Dr, Castaways
Travels: #151 bus south to North and inner Lake Shore Drive.
Hint: If you were at Chicago’s Olympic Day you should know this location. Have a good time as you become a flirty sensation.
Task: We learned how to pole dance, hula hoop, hip hop dance and box with a company that does sexy exercising.
Finish Line – 940 W Weed Street, Joe’s on Weed Street
Travels: #66 North Avenue bus west to Fremont, walked two blocks to Weed Street.
The first place team completed the course in under 3 hours. It took Jenne and I 5:44:03.