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Chicago Thu Mar 01 2012
The Chiditarod Cometh!
Chicago's sado-masochistic denizens are gearing up for another assault against winter in the seventh iteration of THE CHIDITAROD. The annual race/bar crawl/massive food drive (since 2006 the event has raised over $21,000 and 46,000 pounds*) is larger than ever and registration has been closed for weeks. The weather forecast for Saturday, while still "feisty," is nowhere near as terrible as it usually is for Chiditarod. (I know, I know, I'll miss the drenching rains, puddles of mud and street filth, and steady snow showers as much as anyone.)
Volunteers, core Chiditarod organizers, novice squads and steel-eyed veterans (Team Action Squad stand up!) will be congregating with the themed-carts, carts built for speed, carts built for laffs, "collect 'em all, folks!" at the congregation/starting line at Hubbard and Wolcott starting in the early hours of Saturday morning (8:30) with the en masse start anticipated to go off around 11:00 12:30 pm. If you're in the West Town part of Chicago and want to spectate, cheer, shout for joy, here are some useful pointers:
Chiditarod: If You Go
The starting line (Hubbard & Wolcott, you'll know when you get there) is an amazing experience for spectators and racers. Show up there and then bounce to checkpoints.
Look for Team ActionSquad! They are legendary when it comes to costumes/cart decoration/themes.
Play Nice! Cheer on everybody. High-fives for everyone, people.
You're an observer, not a Chiditarod cop; there are judges and bike marshals, so if you observe shenanigans, let 'em slide, Narc!
*That's the equivalent of eight fully grown African elephants.
Chiditarod / March 1, 2012 8:34 PM
1 day, 17 hours, 27 minutes until Chiditarod VII.
May the mush be with us.