The Great Urban Race: Portland 2012

Well, Eric and I can't let the kids have all the adventures.  For our 20th wedding anniversary Eric signed us up to participate in the Great Urban Race.  We still like having fun together.  I have to admit that after all that happened in the month of June when this adventure rolled around I wasn't quite sure I wanted to do it.  I was so tired!  But, I knew Eric was excited about it and because I love him so much I went along.  I am glad I did.  What a great day we had together laughing, problem solving and enjoying one another's company.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Great Urban Race, let me tell you a little about it.  It is like a half marathon and the reality show, Amazing Race, rolled into one (only we didn't know about the marathon part of it and were quite shocked to see everyone in running gear, next time we will know...) The object of the race is to get to know Portland by accomplishing several tasks throughout the city.  Your feet or public transportation is the only way you are allowed to get around the city. When all is completed you are to report to the finish line with the evidence of completing all the required tasks.  Let me tell you, people took this seriously!  There were teams that had computer support staff on call all day.  Eric and I had our smart phones and our brains and still did quite well.  We finished 64th in 4:06:02 out of 196 teams.

A few of the things we had to overcome:

1.  Talking to strangers and asking them to do funny things (of course Eric had me do this while he figured out where the other challenges were and mapped the course we should take):

I made Eric give this stranger a piggy back ride.  He couldn't let me have all the fun.

I got to know four random people walking down the street as I begged them to stay for a picture until I had the required four people in sunglasses.  They were all great sports!  People in Portland are pretty friendly.

2.  We thought we would have to get a tattoo, but instead got to eat dried scorpions:

3.  Walk on a bed of hot coals:

4.  Show off our talents:

5.  Create a culinary masterpiece at Portland's Culinary Workshop (and eat it too):

6.  Participate in a 15 minute yoga rejuvinating routine at the Lotus Blossom:

7.  Sort dried herbs by smell into the appropriate bins:

We were also able to provide donations for the local Ronald McDonald house, roll a quarter between fork prongs at a local oyster bar, work on a new car lot and become VERY familiar with the streets of Portland.  We probably walked about 9 miles total and took the city bus once.  It was definitely a fun day and a grand adventure, but most of all I am glad I was able to hang with my best friend.