This is a recap post of my experience at the RUSH: Race & Urban Scavenger Hunt on June 25, 2011. Next Tuesday, I’ll be posting my Top 10 RUSH tips for all future Rushers- so be sure to check back!
- The Ultimate RUSH
Last Saturday, I participated in the ultimate rush- the RUSH: Race & Urban Scavenger Hunt that is. If you know my partner, Kristie Yung, and I (aka THE WOLFPACK), then you know that we haven’t shut up once about how excited we were for the RUSH. Organized by and benefiting the BC Lung Association, this was the second year that this “Amazing Race” style event would be taking Vancouver by storm.
It was a gray and dreary morning when Kristie and I arrived at Jack Poole Plaza (where the RUSH would begin and end) on race day. We looked around at our competition, and were pumped and ready to crush them all with our awesomeness. Even the sky opening up and pouring rain all over us couldn’t squash our fighting spirit. Chris Lam, BC Lung Development Manager, did his best to torture- I mean, entertain us with his enthusiastic MCing and a few fun competitions while we waited for the 10:00am start. After what felt like forever, the air horn blared, our clue book was in our hands, and the RUSH was on.
- 10 Checkpoint Challenge Seals achieved
An Adventure Like No Other
We ended up in Richmond first, where things we learned about each other in Vegas came in handy, a compass challenge drove us crazy, and I gave a stranger such a strong, enthusiastic hug that I lifted him off the ground instead of popping the balloon wedged between us. Afterwards, we hopped, skipped and jumped on to the Expo Line to a punishing bootcamp in East Van, a very wet challenge (we pretty much drowned in the downpour) at Gladstone Secondary, and a Follow Me Foodie challenge with my good friend, Mijune, in Chinatown.
From there, we sprinted (okay power walked because Kristie and I were dying at this point) back to Jack Poole. Once the cauldron was spotted, a surge of adrenaline rushed through us and we bolted to the finish line, only seconds ahead of another team. Safely on the other side, I promptly ripped my backpack off my body and collapsed on the ground, not caring that other finishers would have to jump over me when they crossed. They honestly could’ve landed on me and I would’ve been too exhausted to feel the pain. Kristie and I didn’t even know how we did at that point- we were just happy to finish what was easily one of the best experiences of our lives.
The Result
So how did we do? Well, after 4 hours, 16 minutes and 4 seconds of rushing around Metro Vancouver solving the craziest, most grueling and mind boggling challenges ever, THE WOLFPACK placed 6th- out of 132 teams!! Not bad for a couple of girls who just came back from a 5 day vacation in Vegas, got so sick one of us lost our voices (guilty) and didn’t train at all for the RUSH (aside from learning the Thriller dance).
- TEAM WOLFPACK IN THE HOUSE!
Gratuitous Gratitude
On behalf of Kristie and myself, I would like to thank all our family and friends that donated to our fundraising for the BC Lung Association. Because of you we were able to raise $540 for this amazing organization. Thank you as well to everyone that offered up tips and wishes of luck- we hope we did you guys proud!
If you’d like to donate to our cause, you can keep doing so until July 22nd on our fundraising page. Let’s help the BC Lung reach their $75,000 goal!
Thank you also to our fellow RUSHers for giving us a good run for our money and good karma points to those that shared answers and pointed us in the right direction just because you’re awesome.
HUGE thank you to all the volunteers who ran every checkpoint and cheered loudly for us when we crossed the finish line- you guys made this so much fun for us. Lastly, HUGE, HUGE, HUUUUUGGGGEEEEEE thank you to the RUSH Events Team- Tiffany, Marissa, Chris and countless others I didn’t get the privilege to meet. You guys pulled off an amazing event and THE WOLFPACK can’t wait to win next year’s RUSH 
Related posts:
Karra!! I am SO proud of you and Kristie! To finish 6th is huge and to still see a bright smile on your faces at the end of the race is even better. Great recap and post of the event! Beautifully written as expected. It was such a great cause and I was honoured to be part of it! Thank you for the links! I hope I’ll see you guys again next year and you have to admit my challenge was yummy
… sorry you couldn’t savour the goodies though! You ladies did great and looked good doing it!
Posted by Mijune | June 28, 2011, 12:51 pmI was so excited for your challenge, but knew that eating something would be involved. That’s why we purposely made you our last trip! Thanks for making me only eat half the twist- I saved it and noshed on it after I could breathe again lol
Posted by Karra | June 28, 2011, 1:46 pm