The Great Urban Race is a wacky urban adventure. Teams of two solve twelve clues, have a wild city adventure and complete fun challenges while discovering the city in a fresh way!

 

to have fun!

to have a city adventure.

to properly complete all the clues first.

 

 

Each team will be given an envelope that contains twelve or more clues ranging in difficulty at the start of the race.

 

The clue sheet will contain a mixture of clues – some physical and some mental.

 

During the race teams will have the option to skip one clue.

 

Most races contain one or more Detours, which is a choice between two checkpoints.  Choose the one you think will be easier or faster (or more fun).

 

There may be a clue that is mandatory.   Failure to complete a mandatory clue will result in disqualification.   Teams will not have the option to skip a mandatory clue.

 

For every incorrect or incomplete clue, a 30 minute penalty will be added to the team’s finish time.

 

Teams will not have the option of returning to properly complete any incomplete or incorrect clue.

 

 

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 and many other activities were used during the 2009 season.

 

Scavenger Clues:   Return to the finish line with an item or find a specific vendor.

 

Puzzles:   Think anagrams, word searches, crytograms, and crosswords.

 

Brain Teasers:  Riddles or tests to tease your brain.

 

Challenges:  Interaction with the general public.

 

 

 

Phone-a-friend:   Some clues will require finding obscure facts. It will be beneficial to have one or more people available to assist you on the Internet.

 

High-tech: Laptops, GPS', cellular phones, fax machines, Internet-enabled devices, or other devices approved by The Great Urban Race staff are allowed.

 

Ground Support (GS)

Teams can use a GS team along the course, as long as they follow the below rules:
• GS CAN NOT complete any of the challenges at clue locations or help teams while at the location
• GS can help teams find where a clue location is along the course
• GS can drop off a “scavenger item” to teams along the course

 

Scavenger Item (noun): An item found along the GUR race course that is not part of an exact clue location, but can be picked up at multiple locations around the city. (i.e. “Return to the finish line with a takeout menu that has egg rolls listed as an item” or “Return to the finish line with a post card with a boat on it”)

 

 

Teams may only travel by foot or public transit. This includes buses, trains, subways, ferries, and trolleys.

 

Teams may not use any form of private transportation or accept any rides. This includes taxis, private cars, motorcycles, in-line skates, escorts, pedicabs, bicycles, horses, or any other form of private transportation.

 

 

 

The Family Division is reserved for families with one racer under the age of 18.   Family teams are not required to be blood relatives.

 

The winning Family Division team will receive a special award at each local race.

 

The Great Urban Race is difficult to complete and primarily designed for adults, so if there are young participants they may need assistance from an older team member. An eleven-year-old and his father did, however, finish 16th in the 2008 National Championship.

 

Teams in the Family Division may compete on two, three, or four-person teams.

 

Should a team in the Family Division finish among the top 25 at a local race, they will qualify for the National Championship, but only two teammates may compete in the National Championship.

 

 

 

During the race every team MUST:

 

Obey all local laws, regulations, traffic laws. Participants are solely responsible for their actions and the consequences of those actions during The Great Urban Race.

 

Wear the official bib number at all times, in such a way that it is clearly visible.

 

Comply with the directions of The Great Urban Race staff, local authorities and property and/or venue owners and managers.

 

During the race teams MAY NOT:

 

Engage in unsportsmanlike or illegal conduct. Verbal or physical aggression towards the public, local officials, other participants, or the Great Urban Race staff, or acts of vandalism, theft, or harassment may result in disqualification from the race, at the discretion of the the Great Urban Race staff.

 

The Great Urban Race staff reserves the right to disqualify any participant or team for any reason at any time.

 

A team’s time will be recorded when the second teammate crosses the finish line.

 

In the event of physical injury, sickness, accident or any other incident which may bring into question an individual’s ability to safely complete the race, The Great Urban Race staff may disqualify the team.

 

If more than one team is present at a challenge location at the same time, the teams will complete the challenge in the order in which they arrived. The Great Urban Race staff reserves the right to delay a team until the previous team has completed the challenge before allowing the next team to begin.

 

No registration refunds will be given for any reason.

 

 

Teams are encouraged to register as St. Jude Heroes and raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital .  Heroes raising at least $250 will be eligible for race day prizes.  Fundraising totals will be calculated at 5:00pm local time on the day of the race.  Donations are accepted on race day.  All cash and check donations must be mailed two weeks prior or brought to the race to be included in the total.  A St. Jude representative will determine fundraising totals; www.stjudeheroes.org may not reflect the most current donation totals. 

 

St. Jude Challenge Winners:  The first team to cross the finish line with at least one teammate wearing a St. Jude Heroes cape will win a prize. 

 

St. Jude Top Fundraising Winners:  The team with the highest fundraising total will win a prize and automatically qualify for the 2010 Great Urban Race National Championship.