Sunday, October 11, 2009

ARW Scavenger Run

Last Saturday my running club, Albany Run Walk did a 4 to 5 mile Scavenger Run. This was so much fun. We all showed up at the parking lot of Westover High School. None of us really knew what to expect. We were told that we would need cameras to take pictures of what we found.

We all got into our pace groups. In my group we had Harry, Donnie, Amie, Nneka, and my self. They gave us our clues and told us good luck. Here is what happened from there.

The Rules:

ARW Scavenger Hunt Rules: Each photo is worth 10 points if successfully completed and in the correct order of assignment. The bonus is worth an additional 15 points. The team (pace group) with the highest number of points wins.

FIRST CLUE: This group was comprised of men and women representing the full array of social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. The most prominent of these leaders are referred to today by Americans as the Founding Fathers of the United States. Take your first photo of your entire pace group standing under the image of one such leader who has been defending his home turf since 1967.

Our group was the first to figure this out. You see I graduated from Westover High School back in 2000. But I can still remember the class president from the class of 99 giving the school this big picture / sign of a Patriot. So our group ran over and took a picture under the Partriot. Sorry the picture is so blurry. We had to snap it quick because we had about six other groups running toward us to get a picture as well.



SECOND CLUE: Founded in 1963, this institution was built in the middle of a 187 acre pecan orchard but had an identity crisis in 1987. Its new name means “town by the water” because of its proximity to the Flint River. Take a picture of your pace group at the new 13 million dollar facility where you can swim without fear of gators or fish.

After we left Westover our group sprinted over to Darton College to get our picture made in front of the new gym.


THIRD CLUE: If you were a Cavalier, you might find it easy to live in this home away from home, but they don’t allow you to store your sword or horse here. Take a picture of your entire group waving, with the front door and roof adornment visible in the photo.

This clue sent us to the college dorms. Here we are in front of the new drom rooms acting crazy.

FOURTH CLUE: Welsh Troubadours played an instrument that sounded like a cat meowing. The English called this instrument a cat, its string called cat gut. The Cavaliers on this team use natural guts for their instrument, but they are not actually made of guts at all. It’s made of cow intestine. Take your picture in the middle of the “field” that this team uses with their cow intestines.


I think it was Harry who said that we needed to go to the tennis courts. So here we are enjoying some water in the middle of the tennis courts. Cheers!



FIFTH CLUE: While some may say this feat involves supernatural powers, others may simply resort to chanting charming incantations to get them through. As you find the chalky start, line up and smile for the camera as your entire team looks at their watch, sets the chrono, and waits for “GO.” Run THE MILE as fast as you can (without puking).

The next clue sent us on a mile run around the campus of Darton College. We had to run one mile all out for time. Here is my stop watch after my "Magic Mile".


SIXTH CLUE: Some people are just drawn to adventure, but anytime safety equipment is involved, those who are faint at heart become a little less exuberant about that particular sport. Add 50 feet skyward to the equation, and those who were faint at heart, become downright faint. With both feet flat on the ground, take a picture of your team at base camp with the outdoor adventure in clear view.

After the Magic Mile we were all tired. We grab some more water and walked over to the challenge course. We weren't sure how much need to be in the picture so I backed way back and to try and get everyone and everything in the picture.


SEVENTH CLUE: Students who spend most of their time in this building often have stars in their eyes. But don’t look for a planetarium, that’s at Thronateeska! Take a picture of your team taking a bow on the steps of this building.


Our group jogged over the the building where the Theater was climbed up upon the steps and took a bow.

EIGHTH CLUE: In this economic climate, when a program boasts that 100% of their graduates seeking employment are successful, it gets your attention. Clearly these students are left-brain thinkers as evidenced by the name of the building they spend so much time in. Take a picture of your team with the name of the building in clear view.

We knew where to go but we were not sure what we needed to take a picture of because it could have been either of the two buildings. We took a picture of the build of Business & Nursing.

NINTH CLUE: Andy Warhol’s flowers, a Frederick Remington sculpture and a photograph of Pablo Picasso all live here. Jewelry that adorned Ethiopian royalty and costumes that once danced in great ceremonies when worn by Zulu warriors also call this home. You won’t find many left-brained people working here, so take a picture of your group holding up their right hand with this building in view.


This is the clue that we couldn't decided on what to take a picture of the Art Museum or the Art Building at Darton. Somehow we go confused and took a picture in front of the Art Building at Darton which was wrong.




TENTH CLUE: Using your whole brain, wind around the front of the campus. Be sure to salute the flag as you go by. Take a moment to reflect on your morning and rest your feet while sitting on the benches near Dr. Peter Sireno’s old office. Take a picture of the back of your team’s heads as they sit in the benches looking at the admin building.


Below is a picture of us sitting on a bench looking at the admin building. It was a nice to sit down for just a second.

ELEVENTH CLUE: Your last picture will be a group shot in front of the “Home of the Patriots.” Everyone in the group needs to hold up their fingers indicating the sign of Victory!


After a Short sit on the bench we took off running again to get back to where we started to get our last picture.

BONUS: Each team can add 15 points if everyone running with them today that should be a registered member, has actually registered. (We LOVE visitors, but if you have run with ARW three times or more, you are no longer a visitor, but a member who has not paid.)


We did get the Bonus points because everyone in our group was signed up for Albany Run Walk.


So, if you were keeping score we got the Bonus and all but one of the eleven clues right. But when all the groups finished I was told that all the groups had tied. Turns out we all missed one thing. I'm not sure what the tie breaker will be. Either way it was a fun! I loved the competition of the scavenger run. I hope our group does this again.

1 comment:

Lindsay said...

how fun! definitely the type of scavenge you'd need to be a local for, but still a fun idea. congrats on the tie!