The snow is finally gone, but there were a few times this winter when we Chicagoans half-expected to see people traveling the unshoveled streets via dogsled.
The Iditarod is annual dogsled race in Alaska, but this Saturday is the Chicago version: the Chiditarod.
One hundred 5-person teams will pull their creatively decorated shopping carts through the city streets in this fourth annual race, rain or shine. While registration is closed, people are invited to come out, cheer on the racers, and enjoy a few laughs.
But just because everyone is having fun, don't think they won't be competitive. In fact, participants are encouraged to come up with creative, non-destructive forms of sabotage.
There isn't any designated route for the racers, so if you're in the area (which "might" be bordered by North Ave, Madison St, Halsted St, and California Ave), don't be surprised if you see a wayward team. The "sledders" are only required to get from Point A to Point B with a few checkpoints in between. It'll be up to them to figure out what the fastest route is.
Amidst all this silliness is a food drive. Each cart must cross the finish line with 25 non-perishable pounds of food.
"They don't have to race with the food," organizer Jake Reimer told the Chicago Tribune. "They just have to have it when they cross the finish line."
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The race starts at 12:30 p.m. at Hubbard St and Wolcott Ave. Be sure to check out the Chiditarod website for details at http://www.chiditarod.org/.
Matt Bartosik, editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and "between blogs" blogger, always races through the grocery store aisles with his cart.
