men:
1. Lars (1:44:20)
2. Kamaal (1:44.55)
3. Zo (1:46:45)
4. Broiler (2:06:40)
5. Tim (2:08)
6. Kayo (2:22)
7. Mitchell (1:27:30) [skipped checkpoints]
8. Waldo (1:28) [skipped checkpoints]
9. Rodent (dnf)
women:
1. Kim (3:06)
2. Maria [skipped checkpoints]
3. Stephanie (dnf)
Well, I had a good bit of fun with this one... Entry fee was a wrapped gift, for exchange at the finish line, and the format was sort of a choose-your-own-adventure thing: At the start, racers were told 2 of the 8 checkpoints, and at each of the 8 checkpoints, there were 2 of the 8 other checkpoints (7 + the finish) on a piece of paper taped to the street sign or told to them by checkpoint workers. So things got sort of random, as your routing all depended on how you choose to attack the first 2 checkpoints, which were in completely opposite dirrections, and both on top of hills. And in addition to that, there were solstice and christmas related items you could pick up along the way for time bonuses. There was also an additional checkpoint where racers had to stop of glasses of eggnog (or straight shots of brandy if they were vegetarian). At one checkpoint they were given a quiz on the "twelve days of christmas" (the song), with each correct answer worth a time bonus, and at another, the first and last rider in each got a 6-pack of anchor steam christmas ale, which they had to distribute amongst the checkpoint workers. I had planned for more than just 3 manned checkpoints, but I managed to get thoroughly soused at my company Christmas party Friday night, and leave my bag at the restaurant, unfortunately containing the props for the rest of the checkpoints. Alas and alack. That made it a little easier for Waldo and Mitchell to cheat, but hey, they paid for their crimes, and I had made it clear at the beginning that I really just wanted everyone to have a great time, cause I had enough prizes for all the racers and checkpoint volunteers, and enough beer and eggnog for everyone. End result? Everyone got exhausted trying to find unlabelled and sometimes no longer existant alleys, but thanks to their faith in their cross street directories, everyone found everything, and got to the finish with smiles on their faces. Mission accomplished.