Great job to the 220 participants who competed in our first-ever Great Urban Race Miami! The weather was beautiful, the costumes were awesome, and South Beach was a great city to kick off our 2010 tour!

 

Participants navigated the island with fun challenges such as waxing a surfboard at F1RST Surf Shop, salsa lessons at Mango’s Tropical Café, using chopsticks at Konexpress Japanese Food, sharing cookies at Oasis Restaurant, polishing each other’s fingernails at Salon Blanco, and many more fun challenges.

 

Elias Jimenez and Patrick Cowan of Team HOPS finished in an impressive time of 1 hour, 36 minutes… mere seconds before Team DunkN in 2nd place. Team Blue Barracudas rounded out Miami’s Top Three, with all three teams qualifying for free entry into the 2010 National Championship in Las Vegas.

 

Congratulations to Rachel and Mickey Planker of team Planker Power who earned the St. Jude Challenge award and the St. Jude Top Fundraising award for raising $550 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Special thanks to the St. Jude Heroes from Miami who helped raise a total of $2,006 for St. Jude!

 

Becky Fromm and Michael Borja of Team Peanut Butter Jelly Time stole the show when they were crowned the Best Costume winners, ending with a show-stopping, high-energy dance to “Peanut Butter Jelly Time!”

 

Thanks to all of our amazing St. Jude volunteers, Ocean’s Ten, our clue locations, and our participants. The GUR Crew had a great time in South Beach and we look forward to returning in Miami in 2011!

 

 

Champion Interview:

(with Elias Jimenez and Patrick Cowan of first place Team HOPS)

 

Have you ever participated in a GUR before?  No, but my background in adventure racing helped as an athlete and race director with Adventurous Concepts.

 

How did you prepare for the race?  Print out bus routes prior, commit to thinking about strategy and route before, and start to attack checkpoints.

 

What was your overall race strategy?  Figured out the furthest points (north and south), identify most clue locations before starting, and go to the furthest clue North to separate ourselves from the crowd.

 

What was your favorite clue?  Puzzle, for sure!

 

What was the most memorable part of the day?  The sprint to the finish!

 

Any secrets to your success that you'd be willing to share?  Run...fast!

 

 

Prizes:

 

First place - HOPS

Elias Jimenez & Patrick Cowan

 

Second place - DunkN

David Mandel & Vanessa Strauss

 

Third place - Blue Barracudas

Alison Bisesi & Ross Cunning

 

Top Family Team - Team Ambach

Kathy Ambach & Blake Ambach

 

Best Costume - Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Becky Fromm & Michael Borja

 

St. Jude Challenge Winners - Planker Power

Rachel & Mickey Planker

 

St. Jude Top Fundraising Winners - Planker Power ($550)

Rachel & Mickey Planker

 

 

Photos from the event:

 

Coming soon!

 

We want to see your photos!  Post your favorites from the Miami race to Facebook and you may see yourself on the website!

 

 

 

What Participants Said...

 

My teammate & I came with great expectations & even they were exceeded. I will be at all the races I can in 2010. I flew down to Miami just for the race and it was the best trip I've had in a long time.

 

Great race overall! Look forward to doing it again next year!

 

I loved, loved, loved this event!

 

I had a great time! I am even toying with the idea of taking a trip to visit my friend in Boston, and participating in the race up there. I hope you decide to do the race in Miami again next year!

 

One of the 'funnest' days I've ever had!

 

It was awesome... can't wait til next year!

 

We had an AWESOME time!!!

 

I really enjoyed it!!

 

 

2010 Miami Results:

 

* denotes team qualified for the 2010 National Championship

** denotes team qualified for the 2010 National Championship and receives FREE entry

# denotes team received a penalty 

^ denotes team competed in the Family Division

+ denotes team member competed as a St. Jude Hero

DNF denotes team did not finish by 5:00pm

All times have been adjusted to account for penalties administered.

 

1 * * 1:36 HOPS Elias Jimenez & Patrick Cowan
2 * * 1:36 DunkN David Mandel & Vanessa Strauss
3 * * 1:43 Blue Barracudas Alison Bisesi & Ross Cunning
4 * 1:45 The Ri-Tards Nancy Gutierrez & Santiago McCluskey
5 * 1:48 BullnFurstie Lauren Williams & Michael Williams
6 * 1:52 Tara & Lynda Tara Smith & Lynda LaCentra
7 * 1:55 MooreSpice Sabah Brinson & Caiphus Moore
8 * 1:56 Shadam Shannon Gibson & Adam Cappel
9 * 1:58 Warlords of South Beach Rochel Chancerel+ & Damect Dominguez
10 * 1:59 Trucker Punch Michael Plasencia & Daniel Ramirez
11 * 2:01 Planker Power Rachel Planker+ & Mickey+ Planker
12 * 2:02 dog eat dog Leah Tibbals & Joel Navratik
13 * ^ 2:02 Team Ambach Kathy Ambach & Blake Ambach
14 * 2:06 VE 2 Patrick Vilar & Victor Andres Sasson
15 * 2:06 We're Fonda Winning! Lauren McCarthy & Melanie Sexton
16 * 2:07 Carpet and Drapes Patrick Harlan & Kristi Harlan
17 * 2:09 Whiskey Drinking Hell Raisers Cullen Caston & Charlie Carter
18 * 2:10 THE Situation Joanna Tewfik & Zachary Segal
19 * 2:11 GURRRRRRR, it's too Michael Hamberger & Jessica Leitsch
20 * 2:12 Boom Chicka Wah Wah Laura Aviles Lynch & William Lynch
21 * 2:12 Jew Crew Kadie Black+ & Benjamin Epstein
22 * 2:14 The 3 Mousekateers Louise Lopez , Sharon Lopez & maria teresa lopez
23 * 2:20 Peanut Butter Jelly Time Becky Fromm & Michael Borja
24 * 2:21 Shercock Holmes and Doctor Wantsome Jesse Steek & Geovanni Rey
25 * 2:21 Richard Taters Nino Serafini & josh lee
26 2:22 ilabaca empire Paula Ilabaca+ & Patrick+ Ilabaca
27 2:23 Boom Boom Flash Mob Olga Volkus & Alexandra Kiss
28 2:24 TeamTyler Stephanie Evans & Hatthalay Phetsanghane
29 2:25 Club Sweat! Stuart Green & Alison Hodge
30 2:25 Jane Fonda Junkies Christina Schneider & Kati Tyrie
31 2:26 MAIDS 4 U #1 Emily Cherrington & Susan DellaPorta
32 2:27 bearded-blonde marcelo pereira & nicolette connell
33 2:27 Fly till we die ___ & ___
34 2:27 Snowmen Dan Dumford & Katie + Dumford
35 2:27 Double Bogey Kristen Lee & Rebecca Yoakum
36 2:28 TYCAM Larry Franco & Patti+ Franco
37 2:29 Honeymoon In Vegas Jimmy Michaels & Courtney Logan
38 2:29 Hot n Cold Gaston Sanchez & Bridget Baratto
39 2:29 maid4U2 Melissa DelConte & Sharrie Zywzcki
40 2:31 Good Vs. Evil Mona Santacruz & Liliana Arrazola
41 2:31 Heavy Metal is NOT D Ankit Shah+ & Jessica+ Bonilla
42 2:32 Did You Say Turban Race? Paul Borr & Sloane Solomon
43 2:33 Ehm&Ess Marilyn Hoyos & Stephanie Hoyos
44 2:34 The Stubby Shalalees Dana Ponsky & David Echezarreta
45 2:35 Team Godiva Lisbeth Langaigne & Isaac Montoriya
46 2:35 Cafe con Leche Marcus Gatto & Bianca Paz
47 2:35 Panda Express Megan Tice & Leslie Martinez
48 2:35 Ditzy Dynamic Duo Ilene Brooks & Nancy Rich
49 2:36 Chimi-Changa Julio Arraut & Joshua Surprenant
50 2:36 The Love Bugs! Patrice Peraza & Rayda Aleman
51 2:36 Pretty Fast Girls Raquel Contreras & Cindy Gomez
52 2:38 Cafe Juan Valdez Sebastian Jaramillo & Paula Gomez
53 2:38 Foo Foo Cuddlie Poop Dennise Rodriguez & Rhianna Rogers
54 2:38 Fit Fast Cardio Blast Martin Blaya & Meghan O'Connell
55 # 2:39 Team Double Dare Chris Spear & Jennifer Becker
56 2:40 The Cornerstone Geeks Maggie Velazquez & Alexander Trujillo
57 2:40 Team Foot Pursuit Susan Mennig & Jennifer Conger
58 2:43 Tygers Julie Maddaleni & Matt Kalish
59 2:44 First Down Jennifer Rutledge+ & Jeff+ Brown
60 2:45 Big Enchilada Karla Mosquera & Ryan Merrell
61 ^ 2:45 Triple A and T Bruce Adams , Christopher Tavormina , Valerie Adams & Alex Adams
62 2:46 Yo Mama Stasa Dziga & Ricki Ramirez
63 2:46 Catch and Release Jason Cull & Peter Anuar
64 2:48 Vin Rouge David Nemitz & Lyonel Lafon
65 2:49 Team Vertigo2 Francisco Dezayas & Roberta Dezayas
66 2:49 Cylon Welcoming Committee Justin Wolman & Mary Mederos
67 2:50 Devil's Advocate Lee Crabtree & Scott Janowitz
68 2:51 Lab Rats Leslie Hoagland & Sheila Saltzman
69 2:51 Team Volunteer Giselle Wong Won & David Wicks
70 2:53 Hardcore 24 April Sharp & Ilana Grumberg
71 2:54 MIA - Men In Action Lucas Folse & Norm Caldwell
72 2:54 Why is Miami called the Magic City? Cuz we're Magically Delicous Carrie Klimczak+ & Emily+ Camillo
73 2:55 The Hiphopapotamus and the Rhymenosaurus Ronald Tejeda & Michelle Oses
74 2:55 Los Matadores ALEXSA MATTAR & ROLANDO MATTAR
75 3:00 METROPOLITAN MINDRAC VICTORY RICH & RASHONNA WAPLES
76 3:00 Flash Back to Back Molly Acosta & Joshua DeWitt
77 3:04 Drinkin' Golfers Krista McCarty & Bryan Davidson
78 3:08 2nd Place Matthew Fong+ & Gladstone+ Fong
79 ^ 3:09 A Team Adrianne Calvo+ , Raul Ceballos & Bruce Ramil
80 3:12 Team Dysfunkshun RICK BANNON & MICHELLE SERENO
81 3:12 Team Ream Linda Ream & Daniel Ream
82 3:12 Supreme Gorditas Sunshine Downer & Robin Kuchar
83 3:17 Team Hippie Chicks Randee Ehrlich & Summer Swindell
84 ^ 3:18 Running with Scissors Paul Blackmon , Mary Blackmon , Trey Blackmon & Lily Blackmon
85 3:19 bon jovi nators maureen sallustio & rene zaldivar
86 3:19 Jiggly Joggers Erleen Mishiev+ & Vanessa+ Safie
87 3:22 Quick Question? Judi Hildebrandt & Tricia Couch
88 3:36 Hey, Did Somebody Banana? Sidnaya Ginsburg & Derek Schweitzer
89 3:40 TBA - 2 PAUL RILEY & KEN RUSH
90 3:50 My Little Ponies kathryn sullivan & Stephanie Cramer
91 3:52 Adventure Girls Linda Zechel+ & Catherine+ Prescott
92 # 4:57 The Wolf Pack Maureen O'Connor & Felix Tellez
93 # 4:59 Ascalamante Lola Jimenez & Chuck Crocitto

 

DNF Reform School Girls Lanie Rangel+ & Bridgette Alvarez
DNF Empire State of Mind Christine Mann & Robert DeDominic
DNF The Guppies Danielle Garrard+ & Kristy Lopez+
DNF Team Vertigo Alex Gonzalez-Mir & Ana Gonzalez-Mir
DNF TBA CHARLY MCDONALD & JEANNETTE BILSKI
DNF Ship Faced Barbara Cobas & Alison Frazier
DNF Nacho & Encarnacion Annette Cintron & Mark Cintron
DNF Mamajuanas Mary Yates & Leyani Roman
^ DNF Galaxy Girls Krupa Patel , Smita Patel , Anjali Patel & Parimala Patel
DNF Florida Snow Removal, Inc. Juan Echegaray & Raejean Echegaray
DNF Fire and Ice Lynelle Williams & Christina Martinez
DNF Fa-monsters Lisa Smalheiser & Janah Adickman
DNF BOX KICKERS TWO Anne Murphy & Miriam Smith
DNF Box Kickers One alicia grasso & kimberly fanning