Congratulations, Chiditaroders!
Our hats go off to the 83 teams of the 2008 Chiditarod!
We were blown away by the sheer numbers of participants this year, but even more by the creative spirit, athletic prowess, and delightfully bad behavior that you all brought to the streets of our fair city. Even as the weather turned from mild and sunny to sub-freezing in true Chicago style, almost 400 of you muscled through five checkpoints, three talent contests, and over four miles of asphalt tundra to celebrate with us at the finish line. We know that some of you endured duct-taped wheels, chafing spandex, Criscoed handles, and even had cinderblocks chained to your sleds. But despite these hardships, you mushed on, knowing that there was glory waiting for you at that last watering hole - and failing that, an adorable robot that you could pummel incessantly with snowballs.
For those of you who won prizes, we offer our heartiest of congratulations! For those of you who didn't, we remind you once again that it is the journey, not the destination that matters...and also that the Chiditarod's judges are distinguished not so much by their excellent taste as by their ability to hold onto a clipboard while inebriated.
If you were new to the race, you may have been surprised at the presence of covert ops, greasy palms, overt sabotage, and general sneakiness in this year's event. We try to place limits on this kind of illicit activity, but...this is Chicago after all. One team took these hijinks to a whole new level, precipitating a heated controversy that we are calling Chiditagate 2008.
Food Drive
The number of teams doubled again this year, but the amount of food gathered per team grew as well. There was so much we lacked the logistical capacity to weigh it all. We dispatched four vehicles - a 15 foot cargo van, an SUV, a station wagon, and a pickup truck - full to overflowing. We think it topped two metric tons. The food was donated to Onward Neighborhood House in the Ukrainian Village and through Burners without Borders to King of Glory church on Chicago's south side. Another glorious success!
We Want Your Feedback
Please participate in our post-race survey, which will be sent out to all racers in the next week. Choose your favorite teams in our new people's choice contest, and tell us what you liked about the race and what you think we should work on for next year.
