At the end of the Checkpoint 5 they received this clue:
Over the highway and through the woods, to Loring Park we go. A Race Official is there, but exactly where? I guess we just don’t know…

Somewhere in Loring Park, there was a race official waiting with a perfect-cut jigsaw puzzle and this note:
Solve puzzle, solve puzzle on the puzzle, tell puzzle clue back to the puzzle official, return puzzle to the puzzle official in the puzzle challenge. puzzled?

Near Tyrone’s old home inside a glass dome there lives a Standing Glass Fish,
Nearby lies a whimsical bridge on a Linden Seed Pond where many have made a wish…

On their grounds, words abound, but some are squarely better,
Connect the words, as instructed, to form the needed letters…

Letter 1:
From: To:
involuntary invisible
terrified deserve
throwing frustration

Letter 2:
From: To:
transportation frightens
reciprocate inert
sophisticated transportation

Letter 3:
From: To:
luxurious imminent
unfurled instinctive
suspicion shadow
luxurious unfurled
instinctive shadow

Letter 4:
From: To:
involuntary capabilities
verge shock

When you’ve figured out the letters and the word they form, write this word on a piece of paper, and send a picture of a team member holding the paper. In addition, please call the Race Voicemail on your phones and leave the team name and the word you found.

They were also given the following challenge questions that they needed to work on during the remainder of the race (pdf file): trivia

Decode the following Caesar Cipher and follow its instructions: LBH RNG OVT FNHFNTR NG XENZNEPMHXF Meet a race official at the listed location. This message is coded in a specific type of Caesar cipher known as ROT13.

On University Ave is the original location of the University of MN Minneapolis campus. Find this location and the name of the building now located there. Write the building name on a piece of paper, and send a picture of a team member holding the paper in front of the building.

Minneapolis recognizes “sister city” friendships with eight cities abroad. On the island is a bell that was given to us from one of our sister cities. When you find the bell, leave a voice message to tell us which sister city gave us this gift and ring the bell so we can hear it.

In the State of Minnesota, there is a County, a City, a Street, and an Island that all share the name of an early 19th-century French explorer and mapmaker.

On the upper end of the Island is a 19th century residential district with many architectural styles dating from the 1860′s to the 1890′s. There are 43 historic homes in this district. You have received a picture of one of these homes.

You need to find the home shown in your team’s picture and identify its house number. Write the letter code from your picture and the house number on a piece of paper, and send a picture of a team member holding the paper in front of the house.

No names will be dropped, but word on the street is that a freestyle rap battle spontaneously broke out between team Lefty & Skinny and the rest of the pack coming out of the second checkpoint.  Overheard on the course:

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

XLR-99 think they so fine, with a strong spine, in their mind
Nein Nein Freulein
The answer is not 42, You have no clue
And where’s your crew?
We prophesy’n, for the final time, you will resign when the clock goes chime

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

0xDEADBEEF, good grief, turn over a new leaf and give us relief
By denying our belief you’re no stronger than a tea leaf
By the time this morning is over
Our presumed victory will no longer be contradictory
Encoded in Hex, stand by to be vexed.  Oohh!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

Tryit.  Got to give you props, for your cranial chops.
In our endeavor, however, to understand your clever
May we give a recommendation,
Sincerely from the Minneathlon nation,
Instead of winning a prize by “try it”, you may want to just “buy it”.  Oohh!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

Team Intern, it’s our concern, that you learn, before you return
Don’t forget you might sun burn!
Tuff and buff, in your St. Olaf football fluff.
It’s too easy, to sling you these zingers
You may want to consider, becoming choir singers!  Oohh!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

C4, To you we implore, straight to the core, let’s settle the score
You may want to break and stretch out
To end your drought — aw, don’t pout!
When it’s time to come home, and you find that your lacking
Just remember it was Lefty and Skinny that sent you a packing.  Oohh!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

Southern Fuego, don’t leggo our eggo.
Welcome to the country where we ski on the lakes
I’m sorry if you shakin’ cause we rais’n the stakes
You tryin’ to be scary with your pipes and your scope
But you really just chillin like soap on a rope.  Ooohh!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

Boston Tea Party, you think you so smarty
You sip gracefully by extending your pinky
Why not finish with a hostess twinkie!
Since it’s your job collectively, to protect the constitution
We hereby declare, we startin’ a revolution!

Lefty & Skinny gonna’ skool you
Till the break of dawn
With our brains and our brawn cause we’re loco
Smooth like cocoa
Excuse our expression, but class is now in session

(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!
(Lefty & Skinny say) Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!

I’ve posted the real-time tracking links for the race tomorrow. They’re on the Status & Results page. Feel free to disseminate this information to any friends and/or family who would be interested in keeping tabs on the race.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The official race start time will be 8:30 AM (Minneapolis time) on Friday, June 27th.  All racers should be at the World Domination table at 8:15 AM for a rules review and pre-race instruction.

1. HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!
2. Rules review:8:15 AM at the World Domination Table
3. Start Time: 8:30 AM at World Domination Table.
4. First Team back to the finish line in the 4th floor entryway wins.
5. Be prepared for any weather conditions. June in Minneapolis could be 100 and humid or it could be 45 and rainy. The race will go on rain or shine – unless the weather is severe.
6. Please bring fluid with you. You’ll be spending several hours running around the city and water may not be convenient.
7. Wear sunscreen!
8. You may use all items in your main envelope (The envelope will be given to you at the time of race)
9. Remember you are representing Logic. If at any point someone questions you, show your Minneathlon ID.
10. In Public areas with lots of people, please use discretion with running or making a mess
11. Other Teams- Feel free to interact with them.
12. The only allowable means of transportation are: Foot, Bus, and Train
13. You may not travel on or through any restricted areas including (but not limited to): Construction areas, Railroad areas/bridges/etc., or other hazardous areas. Do not trespass!!
14. Certain challenges or puzzles may be issued that forbid assistance from outsiders. If this is stipulated, please show integrity and honor this stipulation.
15. You may be asked to return with certain items to Logic or a judge. You will be assessed a steep time penalty if you do not return with these items.
16. We are using tracking devices on this race for the purpose of tracking your progress throughout the race. It is not for your benefit. You will not be allowed to check the progress of other racers. You will also not be allowed to use anyone else to check progress of other racers.
17. Emotions – Please, let’s all remember this is a race. Any insult or pass on the road is usually not personal, but instead, is said in the heat of the competition and should not be taken seriously. Try to forget it and move on, there may be a point when you need them later.
18. Partners – Treat them with respect, as you all know this is a highly stressful situation, bringing out the best in some people and the worst in others. You need them and they need you, so shouting at them is not the best way to tell them you appreciate them for the hard work they are doing for your team.
19. Read all clues- Re-read them if necessary. If you don’t know what you are doing follow another team.
20. Appreciate the Trip- This may be your only opportunity to see parts of Minneapolis you have not seen before, and don’t waste it saying how much you’d like to be at home on the recliner.
21. Stressing out- This is a rule that all racers break at certain times. Stressing out will not help you get to the finish line, stressing out will only make things worse.
22. Clues may be hard! If your team cannot solve a clue or a challenge, a text message may be sent to minneathlon@logicpd.com or call the Minneathlon race hotline on your phone. A time penalty will be accessed if you are given assistance by the race coordinators.