The race started Sunday at 1PM with a blood baptism courtesy of Ashley who managed to bellyflop off her bike onto the sidewalk (that's pavement Bill) in front of 30 hecklers. It was kinda embarrasing for Ashley but, the bike gods being pleased, they allowed the race to continue without major interference.
22 Racers started at 1 miniute intervals, rode to the federal courthouse, stamped their manifests in the outside slot and began the long upwind leg to miller outdoor theatre (all except for marcus who decided, since the beer was at the finish line, he would go there direct).
On arrival at the theatre they were each given an envelope with an egg and further instructions inside. 20 couriers who found the checkpoint opened the envelope. Jeremy was the exception. He immediately went to the address on the outside (we were using recycled envelopes) and found himself alone at 301 Fannin.
Everyone then rushed off to Whole Foods Market on Shepherd there to find Houston's own SuperDave (sorry chicago) wearing a clown wig and handing out water balloons.
The next checkpoint was at humidity headquarter where where everyone was given a medicinal double shot of the cheapest tequila we could find, warm, from a dirty glass, and without a chaser. As soon as we got our glass back, we handed each their last package, a brick, to ride comfortably in their bag with the egg and the water balloon.
Off to the finish line at the baseball field to check in and consume the beer. Naturally almost immediately somebody threw a waterballoon, and then somebody threw an egg and so for the last two days all the couriers have been getting something less than the normal welcome in offices and elevators. Amazingly enough, only 3 eggs and 2 waterballoons were actually broken during the race.
Houston really does have the Best!
results:
1. Evil Twin David - 45:30
2. Malcomb James - 45:56 (Broke something, 30 sec penalty)
3. J.B. - 47:03
4. Tim Bleakie - 48:48
5. Spencer - 49:22
6. Shane - 49:29
7. James - 50:40
8. Spit Coleman - 50:59 (Broke something, 30 sec penalty)
9. Mike C - 51:20
10. Andrew E. - 51:35 (Broke something, 30 sec penalty)
11. John Spiller - 52:08
12. Ashley - 52:09 (she's protesting and we don't care)
13. Dustin - 52:25
14. Sam - 52:32
15. Larry - 52:49
16. Leo - 52:56
17. Jason - 53:08
18. Doug (good twin?) - 53:33 (Broke something, 30 sec penalty)
19. Andrew M - 53:47
20. James B. - 1:00:36
21. Jeremy - 1:12:10
ADFL Marcus - 1:32:21 (and never did find the Tequila)