Midnight Marauding

This year, Jane, Joanne, and I decided that to celebrate the New Year we would put together party and mini-adventure race. We had tons of fun (and admittedly wine) planning the event. We have three creative minds. So over time, we came up with better and better (and somewhat more evil) tasks for our participants. We went from a 5K to 5 miles. We went from 8 checkpoints to 13 (and only stopped because we ran out of time). We had lots of fun making puzzles, maps, games, and markers. Here is "Team Misdirected" setting up our little adventure:

The best part of the event was the excitement of the participants themselves. Although we were not starting until 11 p.m., once Jane asked for team information at 10 p.m. everyone just got ready. The giddiness and expectation of everyone made all the time and effort so worth it - and we had not even started! Now we just had to deliver!

So here is the group before everyone started:

Once the group left, I did not see some of them for almost 2 hours as they ran around Duarte and the Santa Fe Dam area. From there, Jane and I manned one unmapped checkpoint on the top of the dam. It was a beautiful view, and we were able to see everyone's headlamps as they scurried around the dam area. When people arrived, they had to throw a stone in the hopscotch board. There were different tasks for different numbers - but all three teams who showed up at this check-piont ended up with 6 - which meant 60 squats per teammate or a 2 minute penalty. Everyone chose the squats:

Although we thought it would take about an hour to 1 1/2 hours to complete - it was closer to 1:20 for the fastest group and 2:10 for the last group in. When the clue sheets were checked and all bonuses / penalties assessed, the "Double D's" Dave and Dave took home this year's trophy:

Although Eric's team arrived at the finish line shortly after the Double D's they were hit with multiple penalties - ultimately landing them in third place.

Regardless of the place, we truly hope everyone had fun. We played until the wee hours of the morning. Now we three - Team Misdirected - are planning our next event (a summer solstice event) and brain storming even more creative (and possibly twisted) ideas for next year!

Happy New Year!!!

(BTW - I have lots more pics from the event, which I am working on getting posted.)