Minneathlon v2.0

Clue for Checkpoint 8

At the end of Checkpoint 7, The dance judge will have envelopes containing this clue:

The Minneapolis office building was originally home of the Studebaker Bros. Co. of Minnesota. Wagons and buggies were built here from 1913 to 1920. A historic document located somewhere in the building can help you find your way to the location where the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway yards were during this period in history.

Meet a race official at this location.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 12:31pm by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 7

A race official (Janis) is waiting for the teams on the loading dock and race teams will need to learn a brief Latvian Dance and reproduce it to the satisfaction of the Race Official judging the dance.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 12:10pm by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 6

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?

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 11:38am by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 5

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

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 11:13am by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 4

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.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 10:12am by Steve VanderSanden

7287pwkr

Clue for Checkpoint 3

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.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 10:11am by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 2

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.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 10:10am by Steve VanderSanden

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Clue for Checkpoint 1

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.

Add comment | June 27th, 2008 at 10:09am by Steve VanderSanden

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Freestyle Rap Battle

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