Categories
travel

Great Urban Race 2012: Santa Monica

Continuing our last year’s urban scavenger hunt in San Francisco, we continue the tradition this year to Santa Monica!

Team Portal

A big shout out to Mike S. for being our lifesaver/help line once again!  Couldn’t have done it without you on the line bro! =)

1528

And for the first time, our friends came to compete with us!

Team Wildcats!!!

1525

Team YAY!

1531

Team LINSANITY!!!!

1526

…doing the secret Linsanity handshake…lol!

1527

We’re just bumming around the pier before the race

1565

The other teams waiting at the Santa Monica pier start line:

1529

At 12pm, we were given the clue sheets with 12 clues (only need 11 to finish). Click to enlarge:

1533 1534

Even though it started to rain, it didn’t stop us from dashing out to our first clue!!

1532

 

This is a rough map of the stops and path we took. Blue = path we ran (5 miles), Red = bus path (3 miles).

[iframe width=”425″ height=”350″ src=”http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=212459122541993360602.0004bcba051214ff93a78&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=34.014335,-118.490047&spn=0.030338,0.018994&t=m&output=embed”]

#1: Duck Testicles

Yeah, you read that right…we each had to ingest a duck testicle. we’re not afraid of Fear Factor…we got balls!!! Joseph biting into one, while I swallowed the other whole.

1536

 

#2 Cha Cha Chicken

Just had to sample some spicy chicken.

1537

#3 Animal Kingdom

You can’t tell from the picture, but there’s a pedometer strapped onto the red band. We each had to get 100-110 ‘flap counts’ on the pedometer. Now I know how chickens feel…..tiring!

1538 1539

#4 Barnard Way Linear Park: Segway

My first time on a Segway….super fun and easy to move around!

01541 1544

#5 Paint Lab

Had to do painting reproductions…Joseph got paint all over his head!

1546 1547

 

Bus

Took the bus up 2.5 miles to Wilshire & 14th street. While we were on the bus, we thought it would be cool to see the whereabouts of Team Wildcats (they had Joseph’s iPhone). And what do you know….there they are walking down the street! =)

1548 1550

#6 Second Spin

We had to use Shazam (an iPhone/Android app) to determine the artist of the CD playing at the store. Pretty cool, except Shazam’s server was not working, so I ended up using another app (SoundHound) to solve this clue. Shazam…novel idea, poor execution.

1555

#7 Lincoln Middle School: Donated a book and pens we bought at Walgreens (no picture).

Some more running:

1545 1554

#8 Santa Monica Orthodontics

Had to balance a toothbrush on a dental floss bridge. Pretty straight forward….we got free toothbrushes for completing the challenge! No cavities!

1553

#9 Santa Monica History Museum

Almost got lost here, but we eventually found the museum. Challenge was just to match some faces to their occupation.

1556

#10 Yankee Doodles: Beer Pong (no photos)

We had to throw ping pong balls into 3×3 cups, basically playing tic tac toe.

~ ~ ~

More running…I think I sprinted too far ahead =P That’s Joseph back there….somewhere….

1557

#11 Assorted tasks

Part 1: Piggy back

The parents were confused, but the kid just jumped on me! =)

1561

Part 2: Pose with a street performer

She didn’t sing for us, but we still gave her all our change!

1559

Part 3 Buy a fruit

We bought a tiny refrigerated apple at the convenience store for $1. Probably the most expensive apple I’ve ever bought!

~ ~ ~

After the 11th clue, we ran as fast as we could back to the pier, making it through the finish line! The sun is out to cheer us on!

1558

1563

Here’s Team Linsanity and Team Portal goofing off at the end of the race

1562

Hungry Cactus’ Verdict: A

Great Urban Race Santa Monica was extremely fun, even with the setback of rain at the start. While this was a lot smaller in scale (in terms of distance travelled) compared to San Francisco 2011, I’d say it was still very fun and challenging. With friends joining us this time around, it was definitely worth it! I can’t wait for our next Great Urban Race! =)

413860_10150648520282113_530542112_9055513_789624389_o

Teams: Yay, Linsanity, Wildcats & Portal
Great Urban Race 2012: Santa Monica