Tampa

Saturday, May 3, 2003

A zippy course and some great thinker/runners made for record-setting Urban Challenge times in at Tampa Bay.
   We also welcomed the children of Tampa. One team had a 7-month-old infant, and another was a father/12-year-old daughter team. Checkpoint 11 also led straight into a kid's fountain, where frantic challengers relaxed briefly in barefoot play with los niños.

Press:
A Weekly Planet staff pick, a Tampa Tribune article, and an article from the News Warriors of the St. Petersburg Times (search for Urban Challenge at the site).

Results:
Rolf and David Gjertsen shattered the two-hour mark and beat the competition by five minutes. Did they train? "We found out about it Monday," Rolf said while smoking a cigarette after the race, "and partied last night." While the two don't seem to fit the runner's profile, one has Marines experience and the others in training for the FBI. It also helps to be a delivery driver for ChemLab, and knowing every business and shortcut the city has to offer.
   In a split-second race for second (and a free hotel room in New Orleans), team News Warriors (Shelaine Peters and Tamara Lush of the St. Pete Times) beat 2002 championship veterans Troy Tysenn & Barbara Boulanger by a mere second! Boulanger, with a bum knee, stopped to catch her breath a few feet from the finish line. In darted Peters and Lush, knocking over bellhops at the Marriott. Ahh, the drama. See all the results»

Checkpoints:
From Ybor City, through downtown, across the river and into Hyde Park, it was a veritable best-of-Tampa thrill ride.. Check out the checkpoints »

Trivia Challenge:
How long does it take to sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall? Test yourself with the Trivia Challenge »

Photos: Additional highlights of the day.

Thanks:
A big thanks to Eve Dietrich and her husband Sean for all their help, as well as the crew from DC for giving us a hand on race day.