Eight things to expect during The MOST Amazing Race

Jun 10, 2015

One exciting day and a lot of money raised to help our Twin Cities food and housing programs – we’re, of course, talking about The MOST Amazing Race.

This annual event features teams of two competing mental and physical challenges across the Twin Cities. To get in the race, each team has either proven to be a stand-out fundraiser, ranking in the top ten and raising more than $2,000, or beat out up to 90 other teams in a qualifying event. (You can still get in the race on Saturday, July 25, but hurry since team spots are limited.)

Every year creates its own set of memories, but there are a few things that happen over and over at The MOST Amazing Race. Here’s a list of the eight things we’ve come to expect:

1. Outfit and color coordination is a thing. Many of our racers take great pride in their team names and will dress accordingly. We’ve seen everything from “Thing one and Thing two” to full-out athletic uniforms. Choose wisely.
2. Clues will not be read. Volunteers and staff can be heard repeating the familiar phrase “read your clue” on race day. Many teams quickly glance at their clue without reading it all, often missing valuable insights. Our best advice to any racer, slow down enough to read it all the way through first.
3. The underdogs continue to surprise everyone. You may think you know who looks like they have what it takes to end up in the top 10 teams. Again and again, however, teams surprise us and make it to the head of the pack. Never underestimate the underdog.
4. People sweat, laugh and sometimes throw up. Every year brings its own set of diverse and sometimes intense challenges. Racers should anticipate running at least a mile (more if they forgo public transportation) and completing tasks that are outside of their comfort zones, like performing a comedy sketch on stage. But it is all in good fun, especially when we get to the food challenges, which brings us to another thing that always happens during The MOST Amazing Race…
5. At least one team will find it really difficult to complete the food challenge. Sometimes it’s completely understandable. We’ll admit that past racers have had to munch on sour cream and onion-flavored crickets and wasabi bombs, which would gross many out. What is truly difficult is when teams had to consume two Davanni’s pizzas before running to their next challenge.
6. Teams will get lost. It’s inevitable. Our racers are navigating to challenges spread across the largest cities in the state and if they’ve never used metro transit before, the directionally challenged can become lost quickly.
7. Participants give back to the community. There is at least one challenge that reminds racers what their fundraising was all about. In the past, racers have delivered pillows to residents of our Hope Harbor location, delivered groceries to one of our food pantries and planted flowers outside one of our shelters.
8. One team wins $5,000. Tried and true, this will happen again during our 10th anniversary event this year.

The MOST Amazing Race, an official event of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, kicks off Saturday afternoon on July 25 at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. We invite you to join us for a day of fun and giving back as a volunteer or spectator. Why not bring this list along and see how many you can check off.