Registration is OPEN!!

Here are the instructions for team registration!

Make sure you have all your team mates names
Once you complete the registration page it will take you to a confirmation page that sends you back to the website.
Go to the PayPal button for "Team Registration" where you will enter your team name and email so we can match your registration to your payment. You can be a PayPal guest and use a credit or debit card. Please use the same email for registration and payment. It makes it easier on us and we won't have to give you "the evil eye" on the morning of the race.

Team registration is $40 per team.

Click HERE to start the registration process! (Hint: right click on the links to open in a new tab. That way you can toggle between the form and the blog)

We will email you the location of the start line (near 5400 South Redwood Road) a few days before the race.

GOOD LUCK!

Which way do we go?

First, let us say that this race is short but takes time. Your route will be your choice but you should not be going more than 3 miles at the longest! You will need time at each challenge location to cheer on the other teams and take your turn.

Our goal for this race is to move it to a new area of the city each year. We hope this will encourage interest in the unique areas and shops in our city. We decided to stay in a flat area this year to start so our location will be in the Family Center near 5400 South Redwood Road.

Now for the course: teams will not know where the challenge locations will be until the start of the race. We'll give each team a card with the locations listed on it and an area to be punched by officials at each challenge location. You can receive 2 punches at each location: one for arrival and one for challenge participation.

***Points will be given for each challenge and the more points you get, the better chance you have of getting a prize. BUT you are not required to participate in the challenges (and that would be so sad...)***

Teams will meet together at the start line (you'll get that info at Team Leaders Meeting a few days before the race) and be given the map with the challenge locations. Your map will likely look like the palm of your hand (not literally...good grief!) with the start and finish in the palm of your hand and the challenges will be your finger tips. There is no set order to complete the challenges, you can pick your own route, you can take short cuts as long as they are not across Redwood Road or 5400 South.

*For the big roads you are REQUIRED to use CROSSWALKS*

We have a great sense of humor for tricks and silliness and self-deprecating humor. We have no humor when it comes to getting hit by a car.

Now...seems simple, huh? We have a team of volunteers who will be keeping an eye on the sleds and dogs. If you have been especially entertaining through your race, you may get a prize. If you are the rulers of sabotage you may get a prize. Our volunteers are there to help you if needed and make sure rules are being followed.

QUESTIONS WE HAVE RECEIVED

Question: "Can we let our dogs loose to play with the other dogs at the challenge locations?"

Answer: Yes! We are all about the humane treatment of our dogs! They need to be let loose to to get water, visit their buddies, sniff stuff, and then perform for the judges. If you take good care of your dogs they will hopefully warn you before hitting a crack in the sidewalk and launching you over your cart!

Question: "What can we do if the line is kind of long at the challenge location?"

Answer: Did you see the team on the video that had a ping pong table secured on their cart? You could have some wicked games of ping pong while waiting. Bring a camera and take some pictures for us. Listen in on other teams strategy. Cheer for the teams that are doing their challenges. We all know everything is more fun when the crowd gets involved!

If you have any other questions about the race, post a comment here and we'll answer your questions as best we can.

Woo hoo! We're in the paper!

We gave the "scoop" to our favorite reporter from the Valley Journal. Raili, you're the greatest! Here is the article on the front page of the Taylorsville Valley Journal.

Side note: Raili loves us so much, she has signed up to run the Portland Iditarod. We totally believe her when she says it's for research. She'll be wearing a tutu. (he he he)

Costume and Cart ideas...let your creativity shine!

To give you some ideas for creative cart and team costumes watch this video from Portland's 2010 Iditarod. Remember, each city has their own rules and they may be different than ours! We love the wild ideas these teams came up!

Suggestion: You will be able to let your "dogs" loose to visit the other dogs at the check point. You know how social dogs are! You may be waiting for your turn at the challenges so find some ways to stay entertained. One team secured a small ping pong to their cart so they could play a few games while waiting. Bring your camera and get some pictures. Meet some of the other teams at your stop. Make sure your dogs get watered. Have fun. Do a little mental sabotage and lead some teams astray...

Business Participation Form

(Hint: right click on the links to open in a new tab. That way you can toggle between the form and the blog.)

We could not do these events without you. Really! We want our community to know how great you are so this is our chance to show you off. Sign up HERE and let us know who you are and what you would like to donate. Cash donations will be completed back on the main page after you have completed the form. Remember, $100 minimum donations get a team from your business in the race for free!

We know how much businesses love to fill out forms! If you are gathering a team of your own to participate, fill out the team registration and submit it. You do not need to pay for the team registration if you have made your donation.

Thank you!

Calling all Volunteers!

We need you!

If you have ever wanted to be a part of a wild, crazy, revolutionary event...this is the one! Fill out this form and let us know if you have the determination and drive to be part of this event. I'm not sure if any of us really know how much fun this is going to be!

FAQ's

Who can race?: Anyone who is at least 18 years of age. Our race is not a race to bars (as many cities do) so we are able to invite our younger (and faster) sled dogs. Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you know! You also don't need to be a runner. You can walk the route as long as you finish in time.
Isn't it going to be cold?: Only until you start "mushing"! The race goes off rain or shine, blizzard or breeze. Bundle up. (you have a cart - stash some gear in it!)
What's the route?: That's up to you. The race begins near 5400 South Redwood Road. We will announce the checkpoints and a finish line on race day. You choose the route. Bring a GPS, phonebook, your "phone-a-friend" option in case you get lost...and be aware of those who are out to sabotage you with misleading directions.
Can you tell me how long it will be?: We sure can!
Well, how long will it be?: Oh! It will be approximately 3-5 miles. Since you choose your own routes, it could be a lot longer though!
Are there rules?: Yes! They have their own post. Not so bad, huh?
Does my team need its own shopping cart?: Yes.
Where do we get a cart?: Drive around until you see a lonely one that has been separated from it's family.
Are you suggesting we steal it?: No! Find one that isn't at the supermarket and bring it back to them. On the way, enter this race with it. If that doesn't work for you, contact a local store and see if they will let you borrow one!
Can we modify our shopping cart?: Yes, although there are rules -- kind of like stock car racing. Your shopping cart must roll on the original hard rubber caster wheels (no air filled tires). As a general rule, you can attach things to your cart, make a riding platform, and grease up your wheels. Decorate it to match your team. There will be prizes for this! And because teams have asked in the past, no, your shopping cart can not be motorized.
What do I do with my cart after the race?: Take it back to the store where it belongs. The cart misses its home. Oh, and the cart's friends and loved ones too.
What is this going to cost me?: Dignity. Plus your entry fee.
Can I make a side bet?: Absolutely.
I want to race but my friends are lame. Is there a team I can join?: Maybe. Send us an email and we'll see if someone needs another strong sled dog, and you can ask around for help.
Is there a way that I can participate without racing?: Absolutely! We're going to need race marshals and other people to help organize this a bit. Email us or sign up on our volunteer registration page. It will have all sorts of cool jobs you can sign up for!
This sounds funny. Can I bring my video camera and document it?: We would much rather you race. We think you'll have more fun. But yeah, you can come cheer on the teams at the starting line or at any of the checkpoints. And, fine, bring your camera.
Can my team wear matching outfits?: We think you should! There will be a prize for Best Team Costumes. But we do have limits: NO spandex, NO homeless themes (there really is nothing funny about being homeless), NO weapons, NO lewd and suggestive costumes. This is a community and family race and it should be fun. Besides, do you really want your picture in the paper in spandex??
Why are you doing this?: Because it's important to fight cold and kill boredom. What else are you doing that weekend? Also, all our proceeds are going to the YMCA Community Family Center. They rock!
But seriously?: Yeah. We want to live in a city where people do ridiculous things to amuse others -- and themselves. And because we believe the most important thing you can do with public space is -- use it!
Where did you get the idea for this event?: We stole it from a group of people who recently did it in Seattle. We think they stole it from a group of people in NYC. They stole it from a group of people in San Francisco who have been doing it for 10+ years. There are also people doing the same thing in other cities, too.
Who won last year?: We have no idea. This is our first year. Ask us next year!
Where can I get more information?: Review all the posts on this site or go to Facebook and "like" Healthy Taylorsville. They will keep the updates rolling!
Where can I learn more about the real Iditarod?: This is a good website: www.iditarod.com
Will there be an after-party?: Yes! Little Caesars is bringing pizza and Bout Time Pub and Grub is helping, too.
How do I sign up for the race?: Click on the "Team Registration" page at the top of this post. It's a quick process and your friends will love you for signing them up!

Location, location, location

The beauty of this race is that it will take place in a different area of the city each year. Our goal is to introduce people to all the great locations and shops this city has to offer. Just remember that some years may be hillier than others!

This years premier will take place in the area of 5400 South and Redwood Road. Yes, it's busy....that's one of the main reasons we are asking all racers to be over the age of 18. We need our racers to have some street smarts (which means not getting hit by a car - OK?). Most likely all 4 quadrants of this intersection will be involved. You will be given your locations at the start of the race and it will be up to you to determine what route to go and how you will get there. Familiarity with the area is a plus - especially if you know the back streets and the quickest crosswalk signals. Hey, if the team next to you asks for direction feel free to lead them astray. Just know you may be treated with the same sense of affection when you need a bit of help!

Watch for bonus points and any possible additional challenges along the way. Teams will be rewarded for speed...and points....and creativity....and a willingness to make fools of themselves.

Plan on 3 miles. We can't guarantee 3 miles since we have no idea what route you will take to hit the challenges. We also have no idea if you'll go for our "bonus round" so you may log an extra mile or so. Attach some drink holders to your sled, stash some snacks (isn't that what a shopping cart is for?) and be prepared for most near anything!

Rules

Race Rules

General Rules:

All members of the team must be 18 or over. Yes, we know there are many younger (and likely much faster) racers who want to participate. Give us a year to see how this goes and we may adjust it a bit - OK? Our logic is this: we are not closing the roads or having police direct traffic for this race. Teams will have to deal with all the Saturday morning traffic and we need to make sure everyone is safe.

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

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 Iditarod 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. Be ready to race no matter what the weather is.

During the race every team MUST:

Obey all local laws, regulations, traffic laws.This includes crossing big, busy roads at the designated crosswalks.

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

Teams may only travel by foot pushing or pulling their “sled” at all times.

During the race teams MAY NOT:

Engage in illegal conduct. Physical aggression towards the public, local officials, other participants, or The Taylorsville Urban Iditarod volunteers, or acts of vandalism, theft, or harassment may result in disqualification from the race, at the discretion of The Urban Iditarod staff.

Trickery - the good, the bad, the hysterical!

When we talk about Trickery, we mean street smarts. Chicanery. Tomfoolery of an entertaining nature. You get the picture. Got a friend who is a police officer? He or she might want to “delay and question” other teams… get it? Good.

Examples of Acceptable Trickery:

Personal favorite: The team that set up a fake roadblock claiming to be race officials, and would not let teams go until they had sung a Britney Spears song on the street. This is totally acceptable if you can lie that well.

Locking up another team's cart with a bike lock, and then giving the key to the nearest volunteer (who can unlock the cart after an appropriately embarrassing amount of time, assuming the team hasn't figured out a way to defeat the lock

Relocating another team's unguarded cart and notifying a volunteer where you hid it (Volunteers keep secrets as long as necessary)

Finding a way to non-permanently gum up the wheels of another cart – Vaseline?

Sending over a team of supermodels, male or female, to distract them from their allowable start time.

Silly String, as long as it is not pointed up someone’s nose.

Normal water guns – filled with water, NOT hot sauce, or liquor, or chocolate milk, but water.

Anything that won't delay the other team more than an hour (especially if it's funny)

Examples of Unacceptable Trickery:

Locking up another cart, then throwing the key down the nearest sewer grate (or other irretrievable location)

Chopping off the hands of other team members so they can't push their cart

Starting a fight with another team to delay their departure.

Planting illegal substances in another cart and flagging down a cop

Setting off explosive devices in another cart.

Water balloons, ketchup packets, high velocity Super Soakers, etc...

Anything that could hurt someone

Have fun, be creative but know that what you do to a team may come back to get you! Our volunteers will be out (incognito, at times) keeping an eye on the teams that know how to have fun and those that are out to torture. We reserve the right to disqualify any team that acts in a malicious or illegal manner.

Taylorsville Urban Iditarod 3/2/13

Scoring