THRILL OF THE CHASE

REBECCA LITTLE

August 2007

Let the Games Begin

Bust out the comfy sneakers—and maybe a little bravado. City Chase, an urban adventure race that’s hugely popular in Australia, Canada, and Europe, comes to Chicago Saturday the 25th. Teams of two compete in challenges throughout the city, with tasks ranging from an obstacle course to hugging a stranger. “People should expect to get wet, expect to get dirty, expect to get off the ground, expect to eat gross things, and [expect] some kind of nudity,” says Jason Erkes, president of Chicago Sport & Social Club, which helped bring the event to Chicago.

Participants take off with a clue sheet and a CTA pass; GPS units and cell phones are optional. The five-hour race is “intended to push people’s limits,” Erkes says, “to see how far people will go.” The winning team receives a trip to compete in the international competition in Rome. Sign up at citychase.com; registration is $175 and closes Friday the 24th at 4 p.m. The race starts and finishes on Weed Street, between Fremont Street and Sheffield Avenue; check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday the 25th, and the chase begins at 10 a.m. Just want to watch? Stops along the route are top-secret, but Erkes says Navy Pier is a good bet for spotting participants who might solicit your help in solving clues.