Tips from Kevin
Event creator
5/6/02 — I tested the Phoenix course last week. You know, this
Urban Challenge thing is as much fun as I thought it was when I made it
up. I had a blast... it took us almost three hours to cover the course
and we didn't have the benefit of a Skip Man. It was the fastest three
waking hours of my life. It is truly a unique urban adventure.
Between talking to people who have done Urban Challenge before and now
doing it myself, I offer these tips:
- Don't try to solve all the checkpoint clues at once.
Solve the first one so you know where you are going and then "think on
the run". Use your cell phone to call friends for help. We managed to stay
a clue or two ahead most of the time so we were always moving.
- Never stop unless you are completely baffled.
If you have an idea of the area in which a checkpoint is located, start
moving toward it. Better slow motion than no motion at all.
- Do use public transit.
Know your speed and the bus system. Use transit when you can get there
just about as fast on foot. You can use the time to solve another clue
or re-energize.
- Act like you're winning all the time.
So many of the top finishers were surprised by how well they did. They
all seemed to think they were doing poorly. Compete as if you are winning
and you have a better shot at actually doing so.
- Be careful of advice from strangers.
We asked a couple of strangers for help along the way and they were almost
always wrong. If asking strangers for help, make sure you take it with
the proper amount of skepticism.
- Practice traveling with your gear.
Running with a phone and passport and maps and water and food is different
from traveling with nothing. Be prepared for the extra stuff.
If you're signed up to event, get ready for a unique and rewarding experience.
— Kevin McCarthy
|
