I’ve always thought that doing the tv show “The Amazing Race” would be so much fun, but after this weekend I realize that I would suck at it. My friend Alexis and I decided to try our hand at the Great Urban Race in Phoenix this year. The race encourages you to dress up in costumes and Alexis really wanted to be Shamu for reasons i still don’t understand, which made me her “trainer”.
So we got their and we were excited to see all of the great costumes. We walked around for a bit and then it was time where they handed out the clues, and then we were off. A bunch of people bolted for the door, while Alexis and I found a table sat down and devised a plan.
We were already at a disadvantage because we didn’t have a map or smart phone! So we quickly came up with the game plan of going to the Phoenix Library to use a computer to look up the clues and map them all out and do them. Great plan right!? So we started our adventure out walking towards the library, and when we got there it was not what we expected!
All the computers were full and we would have to wait an hour to get on a computer. Luckily we found Jerome, who had a ticket that allowed him to get on the computer in a few minutes. He was so nice and wanted to help us,so he offered his computer time to us. I think he was doing it because he crushing on Alexis. The funny part was Jerome was so nice but wasn’t very good at using mapquest. Hahaha, by the time we got done he printed off a several pages, mostly ads and small maps that weren’t readable. Out of 5 pages printed we only had 1 that was semi useful as a map of downtown Phoenix.
So we were off again still with almost no directions, we just ended up asking fellow racers for answers to clues and directions. I know we are totally cheaters but walking for hours in the Phoenix sun was starting to get old. Even with cheating it was still fun going around to find the different clues, and doing the activities.
Some of the Activities we had to do
* Unscramble a quote and who find the author who said it?
* Find 3 differences between 2 pictures
* Take pictures at landmarks
* Take a picture with someone who has a mustache with your fake mustache
* Make a hand puppet
* Take a short yoga lesson
After our last clue I was so happy to ride the light rail back to the finish! We completed it in just under 4 hrs, the winners finished in just 2 hrs. We would of finished a lot quicker if we didn’t have to backtrack so much.
I decided that i want to do it again next year, but we will be much more prepared with smart phones, food, and will not lock my car keys in my trunk (whole other story)
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