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Can We Interest You In...The Chiditarod?
10 Plays17 days ago
On this week's episode we dive into one of Patti's interests for the past 16 years, the Chiditarod, an "epic urban shopping cart race." The 20th anniversary of the event was March 1, 2025, so we talk about its origin story, fundraising for food insecurity, Hercule Poirot, and fun sabotage. No homework for us this time, because Patti already aced hers.
Interested in donating or joining the cause?
Donate: https://give.classy.org/pattimmcg
Participate: https://chiditarod.org/register/
Check out photos on our BlueSky account! @canweinterestyouin.bsky.social
Email us with questions, comments, to share your interests: CanWeInterestYouIn@gmail.com
Logo design: Marielle Martin
Song: Upbeat Drums with Stomps and Claps by music_for_video
BlueSky: @canweinterestyouin.bsky.social
Email us your interests! CanWeInterestYouIn@gmail.com
Website: CanWeInterestYouIn.com
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts
00:00:00
Speaker
You know that thing you love that your friends and family don't want to hear about anymore? Tell it to us, Patty and Charlotte. We want to learn all about your weird and wild obsessions or your perfectly normal hobbies that you've taken just a little too far.
00:00:15
Speaker
We want to dabble in your curious interests. Can we interest you in today's episode?
Personal Experiences and Spending Discussion
00:00:34
Speaker
Charlotte. Hello, Patty. How are you? I am doing okay. I got it out first.
00:00:44
Speaker
Now I got to think of how I'm actually doing. Doing okay. I got myself into a little bit of a situation on Friday because I did not plan for the the no spend day that we had talked about in our last episode.
00:00:59
Speaker
yeah And I had like literally planned to spend, uh, to buy pizza to have people over. And Adam and I got in this, like, well, it it was like a small, but ridiculous argument where we were arguing about like, can we spend money in it? What places it was like a very 2025, like type argument where i we're like,
00:01:24
Speaker
I'm trying to buy stuff at thrift shops, but like, I just want to buy this one pizza, you know, like that kind of Because you can't get a pizza at a thrift shop. You can't. I mean, it's not, you're not going to want to eat that one.
00:01:37
Speaker
now get there No. so but otherwise it's been an okay and okay time what about you that's funny because yeah the on friday the twenty eight i was going to be driving to chicago and my sister and um her children were coming along and so i was like well i need to get gas ahead of time and i need to get all of our snacks ahead of time And then the day of I read this thing that was like an economist saying, not poo-pooing this at all. However, it's not going to be a large enough impact because so many of us are either going to just spend what we would the day before or the day after.
00:02:16
Speaker
so it's like it needs to almost be more... concentrated in like you're not buying at Walmart or fill in the blank and that it's for 30 days, you know, in order for it to actually feel an impact.
00:02:31
Speaker
But I yeah, we did do it and we stopped at a gas station and my sister offered her children. She's like, Do any of you guys want pizza? And I was like, Judy, we can't. We can't spend money.
00:02:42
Speaker
And she's like, I have it. It's in the backseat. and like And I was like, but we're doing this thing that nobody's aware of that we're doing.
00:02:53
Speaker
and we both just were laughing. We're like, oh, yeah, I guess. But yeah, it it's tricky. Yeah, I feel like it's the kind of thing where maybe the the monetary amount won't matter, but maybe it's just practice. It's good practice for yeah a future longer boycott or something like that.
00:03:13
Speaker
Oh, I like that. I like that approach to it. Yeah, like this is just practice. This is the warm up. Yeah. Well, so... You went to Chicago.
Introduction to the Shydidderod
00:03:23
Speaker
Yeah, because this weekend was the Shydidderod, which is what we're going to be talking about today.
00:03:30
Speaker
So yeah tro drove up for that. And um you have, have you ever come to? I have never come. No. Okay. I think, well, when did you start doing it?
00:03:43
Speaker
Yeah, for this purpose and partially because this this year was the 20th year that they've done it. So it was their big 20 year celebration. And our team of five in some form have been doing it for 19 of those 20 years.
00:03:59
Speaker
But then I was looking at like, how many have I done? And this I think this was my 14th year. Oh, wow. I can't believe I've never gone to one. Well, it's one of those things.
00:04:11
Speaker
It starts so early. i mean, it really doesn't actually, but I'm just kidding. What time? I'll be the judge of that. I was going to say noon. All right. I can make it. um I mean, we get there so early and I think that's why I was thinking it was noon because ah or like too early. um oo One time I went to the after party. Now I'm remembering. I don't think I actually went to it itself, but just the after party.
00:04:38
Speaker
At the bottom lounge? Maybe. Maybe. okay it So what is the Shydidderod? Just for anyone who doesn't know, it's basically a urban shopping cart race. And it's based on the idea of the Ididderod, not at all affiliated with it, but it is the Chicago Ididderod.
00:05:00
Speaker
And that's why it always takes place the first Saturday of March, because that's when the Ididderod starts as well. And it's a urban shopping cart race slash food drive slash bar crawl.
00:05:13
Speaker
And it's through the um Ukrainian village kind of west neighborhood west side neighborhoods of Chicago. and you have your four dogs.
00:05:27
Speaker
So like the Iditarod, but they're people running and pulling the shopping cart. And then one musher, which is also a person, and they're pushing the cart. And then you come up with a theme. So um whatever theme you want to do for your cart is what you will dress in characters to go along with it, and then also decorate your cart to go along with it. And so People take this to extremes or do a really like shoddy job and everybody's welcome. So it's kind of like pageantry and doing good and exercise if you actually care about the run part of it.
00:06:04
Speaker
um How many people are running? So each team has five. um and then I think, you know, there are usually around like a thousand people all in.
Team Themes and Preparations
00:06:19
Speaker
And that includes racers and volunteers because it's all volunteer led. And then like how many people run versus just amble?
00:06:32
Speaker
Thank God the majority just amble. There is. so there's an award ceremony at the end, which I'll tell you more about later. But there are some people who like actually treat it as a race because it's a five mile route, like the five bars that you go to.
00:06:48
Speaker
In theory, it takes five miles like you make your own, you know, route. So it might you might go further because you didn't take a very direct route. But there are some people who actually race it and try to get like the fastest. And it's that's just always very funny, which there was one team this year, CARA, C-A-R-A, the Chicago era Area Running so Association, something like that.
00:07:14
Speaker
They're hardcore runners. And their cart was basically just like a piece of cardboard poster board on the front that says, yeah. Morning.
00:07:25
Speaker
It says, if running were easy, it'd be called your mom.
00:07:33
Speaker
ah And I just thought that was hilarious.
00:07:40
Speaker
But so they were clearly in it to like to win. um But I would say the majority of people you just are watching and they're like walking fast or walking not so fast because, you know, it's more about the costumes and making your cart and yourselves look good.
00:07:57
Speaker
And then also secondary, there's a decent amount of drinking going on. So people are kind of like, especially as the day goes on. A little slower, a little more distracted. Yeah, a little more wobbly.
00:08:12
Speaker
um yeah And I guess depending on what your costumes are, it might be a little hard to run. and well What costumes did you have this year?
00:08:23
Speaker
So this year, because it was 20, group of what we call frivals, so friendly rivalries, And really, some of our teammates have really fostered these relationships with other teams that we've met over the years of all of us just doing it and being very invested in in the racing part, you know, the the day of, but also there's a fundraising aspect. So these groups have been very involved in that.
00:08:49
Speaker
So there were about seven or eight teams that all decided to have a joint theme this year. so that main theme was ravens slash crows.
00:09:04
Speaker
So we were all had like bird heads that we made. There were individuals who are so clever and so talented and so organized.
00:09:16
Speaker
And so they got together at my teammate Cheyenne's office and kind of came up with what the costume would be, what the costume would look like, and then created patterns that they could Then share with everybody. So it was like we all had the same pattern for this head to make out of foam with big googly eyes.
00:09:35
Speaker
my God. Which was the best part. then also do wings so that we had kind of like a consistent theme there. we had a consistent look.
00:09:46
Speaker
But then each team ah five people could be kind of do their sub category, sub theme of that. So for us, we were all crows. Yeah.
00:09:57
Speaker
And a group of crows is called a murder. So we were murder on the Orient Express. Okay. And we all dressed up as Poirot, Hercule Poirot.
00:10:11
Speaker
And so we ah fixed our crow heads to bowler caps. And then we all had fabulous mustaches, you know, curled like his are.
00:10:22
Speaker
And then we wore suits. And that's what our our suit coats and what are those called? Blazers? Oh, yeah, I guess so. Yeah. And then the blazers are what our wings were attached to. God.
00:10:36
Speaker
And then our cart was a train. So it was like that was the Orient Express. So it was like the engine was in the front and then we had it where you could pull out the bar cart. So then you were like in the the what are those called um club car or.
00:10:54
Speaker
oh yeah. Dining car or something like that. I feel like every time I've asked you about your costumes, it's never at all what I would ever have been able to come up with. Like, how do you even come up with all of that?
00:11:10
Speaker
I mean, Ravens versus Crows, is it versus or Ravens? No, you just got to choose whichever one you wanted. Yeah. Like how, who was like, yeah, that.
00:11:21
Speaker
Well, and that's kind of funny. So this year it was in, it was different in that normally when it's just our team, we get together around Christmas and we start to brainstorm. And that's always like such a fun night because, you know, it's just like coming up with crazy, stupid ideas and just like going off in tangents and figuring out what we want to do.
00:11:41
Speaker
But because we decided this year that it was going to be like kind of a huge monster team all working together, they had some brainstorm meetings where like, you know, a representative or two from each team would come together with their suggestions.
00:11:58
Speaker
And I was so uninterested in this idea of Ravens. And I was like, that's dumb. I'm not interested, but fine, I'll show up. You know, i i there was nothing that was getting me excited about it But then when we kind of did get our smaller team together and start talking about like, well, what could that look like?
00:12:19
Speaker
Our team always likes to kind of go a little weird and meta where it's like, you know, either a play on words or or something that no one else is going to notice, but we do. And so it's like what excites me at least about it. And I think the rest of our team. So, for example, one year we were the Harrison Fjords team.
00:12:38
Speaker
And so we decided to all be a different character that Harrison Ford had played in a movie. But then we didn't know what to do with our cart. So we were like, well, let's make it a fjord.
00:12:51
Speaker
And so we just did. And so we were just Harrison Fjord. And so there was like fjord. You know, and we included dinosaurs on the fjord, even though it was like, well, is that really like historically accurate? You know, and and things like that.
00:13:06
Speaker
So it's just fun to get like in the weeds about things that no one ever notices, you know, unless we explain it. And um and, you know, there's an appreciation to varying levels. So but yeah, this year.
00:13:19
Speaker
Which character were you of Harrison Ford? I was the fugitive. So I got to wear. Yeah. I hoping. Yeah. Yeah. So I got to wear the um orange jumpsuit and the big beard and it was very comfortable.
00:13:37
Speaker
So because also it's in Chicago and there's that whole scene with the Green River. Yeah. Great. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that was the fun one.
00:13:49
Speaker
Okay. So, but then Ravens and Crows. Yeah. Murder on the Orient Express. Also genius. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. So then, um so basically, you know, once you, so, you know, there's the one aspect that is this coming up with the, you know, theme and making sure that your costumes look great and your cart is great. And like you said, it's,
00:14:15
Speaker
you always want to think about like how are we can actually be able to move in this, you know, the cart and yourself. And so um after we come up with our theme, then we have build days where it's, you know, usually we start around January. And so then we have January and February weekends where we try to get together and and figure out the logistics of what is this, how is this all going to work out? Yeah.
00:14:40
Speaker
And so we're really lucky in that I am not creative, like I'm not the type of person that can actually like implement things. I'm not handy at all. um I have ideas, but I don't know how to do them. But um we have Cheyenne, who's an architect and incredibly like visual genius who can usually figure out how to how to implement it. And she's good about just telling like, here, do this, you know, because even if she'll try to talk us through like, here's my vision, we're like, nope, don't get it, not there. And then, you know, she'll draw it out or just give us direction. And then
00:15:14
Speaker
Amy and Liz and Sarah are all really great executors as well and and very crafty and handy. So that's awesome. And then there's also an element of fundraising. As I mentioned, this is a nonprofit and part of the reason that it is which I'm grateful that it is, but it's Kind of just some background that the people who started this organization, they're part of the burn community. So they go to Burning Man and do a lot of that kind of stuff also in the Chicagoland area.
00:15:48
Speaker
And so they thought that this would be a really cool idea to put together this urban shopping cart race. and But in order to... not get arrested and maybe like have ah the city on your side. um Chicago is known for, you know, just grease the palms with some money. So um they figured that if they made it a fundraiser and then on something for charity that um they would get more support. And so they were right about that.
00:16:18
Speaker
So the money all goes to organizations that are fighting food insecurity. And so, We raise
Fundraising and Community Impact
00:16:26
Speaker
funds. And in the beginning, that was kind of very secondary, at least for us. Like we didn't really understand the impact or the importance of that.
00:16:36
Speaker
But in years since, that's really been our focus. And especially with Amy and Liz, they are... Yeah. they have really generous friends who also get really creative in the ways that they give money you know they'll give people challenges and hey if you did that then we'll raise you know we'll don't eat additional money and they're also really generous in that they donate to other teams On behalf of us, you know, hey, this is your first year running. Congratulations. Keep it up and try to inspire people to actually focus on the fundraising. So, you know, our first year that we ever really focused on fundraising and we won an award for it was 2015. $2,114. then this year won third place
00:17:21
Speaker
two thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars but then this year we won third place raising $15,481. God. So to kind of give perspective. oh my god so can wait to kind give perspective Holy crap. How much did the the team that won raised the team that won raise? $43,677. Oh, my God. Yeah. Wow.
00:17:46
Speaker
Yeah. And so that's really fun, too, because now there's this, I mentioned the rivalry, this friendly rivalry where we all kind of trash talk each other in the nicest way while fundraising and, you know, donate to each other's pages and things like that.
00:18:01
Speaker
And so it's just been fun pushing each other to get more and more. And they're in the top team this year. There was at least one and I think maybe two individuals who work for organizations that also do a corporate match.
00:18:15
Speaker
o So it's like once you get that, it's like, oh, good, let's just send all our money there because then you get, you know, like corporations are going to pay too. OK, let's go. That's genius.
00:18:26
Speaker
And so how much was raised in total so far? Because I know you could still keep donating even after the event. Yeah, that's a good question. I'm having the hardest time getting the website to come up, but I think it had been something like um up to, let's $136,578 as Monday the 3rd at around 145 Central. Yeah.
00:18:43
Speaker
five hundred and seventy eight dollars as of monday the third at around one forty five central so Wow. Yeah. And that's just this year alone.
00:18:55
Speaker
That's, that's amazing. And yeah, when you said that the first time you won, it was like 2000 something. was like, Oh, I know. I know where this is headed. Cause I saw the numbers recently.
00:19:06
Speaker
Yeah. It's amazing that it's only been that amount of time, just like 10 years for it to get that high. Do you get to hear about like some of the the impact that it has? Like, does it go to certain projects within the organizations that are donated to? Yeah. So Shidderod organization then has um basically individuals who are interested. it it mostly, it goes towards programs that are fighting food insecurity.
00:19:36
Speaker
And so last year, for example, there were 22 different organizations that got grants from Shidderod Foundation. And so it's things like food banks or urban farms, educational programs, community gardens, all different types of programs. And so it is really cool. One year they had ah um some of the teams that raised a lot of money.
00:19:58
Speaker
They invited us to come to an event where the people that were interested in receiving grants came and pitched and so that we could hear even just the work that they were doing in, you know, even if they weren't going to get money.
00:20:11
Speaker
That was really, really great. And then in 2021, because we did race 2020, because it's always that first Saturday in March. So we'd got in just under the shutdown order in Chicago.
00:20:25
Speaker
But in 21, we didn't race. We still raised money. We still, you know, came up with themes and they did a fun kind of like online video. What's that called? Like a video.
00:20:38
Speaker
um my God. Like a screening of different. Videos. Like when you make a movie. um Oh. Screening? Advanced screening? Oh, film festival. Oh, okay.
00:20:53
Speaker
Premiere. was going to say premiere. This is why, like, when people talk crap about Hilaria Baldwin, which I am not a Hilaria apologist or an Alec Baldwin apologist in any way,
00:21:08
Speaker
But when they're like, and she would be like, how you say cucumber? I'm like, I always say like, how do you say? And then it's like a basic English word. And I'm not saying because I don't speak English as my first language. It's just I don't remember words.
00:21:22
Speaker
Yeah. And then when we say it doesn't even sound as fun. You know, it'd be more fun to say like, how you say But instead we're just like, ah how do you say this? I forgot that word.
00:21:34
Speaker
What are you talking about? so Yeah, it's not cute. It's not. It's not. So in the year 21, when they did a film festival and we could each team could kind of like contribute their own film and whatever they wanted to do.
00:21:47
Speaker
They also had a film created to highlight where the funds had gone. um the previous year and then also highlighting some of the individuals and groups that would be getting the funds that year and so it's just awesome to like think about you know because what is that pavlov's no pavlov's dogs no the something of hierarchy of oh maslow's Pesla's hierarchy of needs.
00:22:17
Speaker
Yes, that. Where it's like, if you can't get your basic of basic needs met, you know, then everything else is a wreck. So that's really, really cool. And then we also have to, on the day of donate money, um donate food. And so historically it's gone to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which is such an amazing organization. and that that's one that was started by friends.
00:22:44
Speaker
Oh, wow. In the 70s. Yes. That's amazing. Look it up. It's so cool. But they do such good work. And we do ah standing every other month.
00:22:55
Speaker
um We go and do like a repack session there and volunteer our team. And then we invite other people to come as well. But anyways. And then this year it was um the donations were going to Nourishing Hope, which is another small organization. so it was cool to kind of spread out the wealth of who we're giving exposure to as well as um helping out.
00:23:17
Speaker
Yeah, that is so cool. And like you're also doing it not just like that weekend or that short amount of time, like where you're planning it, but you're it's like a commitment The whole year, if you're like volunteering and then for for years on end.
00:23:35
Speaker
And you're i mean you're living in St. Louis, so you're traveling to go. Yeah. Yeah. And one of our ah one of our other um teammates this year, she it took a job in D.C. And so she's living um in D.C. for most of the time as well. And so, yeah, she came in for one of the build days and then also came in for the race.
00:23:56
Speaker
And, you know, we've had our our mutual um friend Chrissy. She was on the team for a short period of time and she moved to. New Orleans and she traveled in for it. And I've been doing this long enough now that I also lived in Minnesota at, for a few years of it and I would travel in for it. So I forgot about that.
00:24:17
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. So it's, it inspires hardcore dedication. Yeah, it does. It's, it's a lot of fun. And is it in any other cities? I know like the very name of it kind of makes it Like you got to either live in Chicago or it's got to be like a i sounding city name. But right.
00:24:40
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know if other cities do. I think that the organizers have like I know that they've at least been in contact with other people like other cities and things like that. People who are interested in.
00:24:51
Speaker
in it um And I am going to look, i'm i again, this website, I don't know, it must just be so popular right now. um But there was some there was something that said, like, rod in a box. and so um Rod in a box?
00:25:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, so, okay. Oh, yeah, she did a rod. don't know, I was thinking, like, curtain rod. Okay.
00:25:21
Speaker
Yes. So um there this is kind of a toolkit that can be be used to apply it in another city or, you know, community and things like that.
00:25:34
Speaker
And I do know that there have been some like... on the one of the teams the shitty it's which when i told my niece their name because my niece and nephews came to to spectate even though it was really cold and she was like what was the team that was this and i was like oh the shitty it's and she's like hey that's the they put the shit word in it it's like It's like different. And then she's like, they shouldn't call themselves idiots. I'm like, I know, but it's funny.
00:26:01
Speaker
But anyways, one of their team members um lived used to live in St. Louis and she was like, trying to get it up and running here. So I do know that there have been attempts. I just don't know if it's been successful yet.
00:26:14
Speaker
Okay, but something like that could be fun anywhere. I mean, just looking briefly at the website, I saw some of the the things that go on, like there's like sabotage rules, there's, it seems like there's a lot of random kinds of extra fun the day of Yes.
00:26:32
Speaker
Yes.
Race Day and Afterparty
00:26:33
Speaker
So the day of we all meet in the yard. So you register and, and you know, put, you send off your donations and get all of your goodies. And if you've raised a certain amount of money, you get um some swag, which is great. And when we used to be in an actual like vacant lot was the start of our yard or the start of the race.
00:26:54
Speaker
there would be porta potties. And so one of the years we raised enough money to get the VIP peas. And so, and it was so cute. They like had a red carpet and like the stanchions and inside there was like a candle burning and like, you know, they had like everything. And it, I mean, it was, it was really adorable, but now we're, we block off a part of the street that's right outside of a bar. So we're able to use their bathrooms.
00:27:21
Speaker
and So, So you get your swag and and get lined up and there's a free breakfast that they offer and um music is playing and um you the the yard is one of the best times. like And it's why part of why we like to get there so early so that we can... see our friends and and walk around and see other like, you know, themes and carts and people are kind of doing their skits, you know, or whatever they've prepared, you know, to go along with it. So it's like there were there was a group that they were all Miss Frizzles from the Magic School Bus. And so they were like, okay, spin this wheel. And then you learn a, you learn a science fact based on whatever topic, you know, if it's like music, science, or any of the others. And then, and here's a shot in a test tube, you know, or like, there was another group that was um a pirate ship. And then it was like, the plank comes out, and it's actually ah
00:28:19
Speaker
One of those shot skis, you know, where it's like you all take a shot and there are five of them. And so there's a lot of like themed items to go along with it. And so it's just a lot of fun to walk around and check things out.
00:28:31
Speaker
And then there's a group called Animal Encroachment that has been around Chicago for forever. and they are like kind of a big band and they play us off and we take off. And so there are five different bars that you go to and everybody's on a different route. So we're not hitting the same bars at the same time.
00:28:49
Speaker
And you kind of just take off on your route. And at each bar there, you're they also participate in being themed. So they'll have activities that are based on you know, whatever theme they've decided to be.
00:29:02
Speaker
So you can take part in the activities. You also have to check in with the time checks. So you, you know, you say, here's my card. Here's three of the five of us right here. And then they say, all right, you got to be here for 25 minutes. So that's where one of the first things comes in, which is bribery. Again, back to Chicago's roots.
00:29:22
Speaker
um If you want to try to bribe them to get let go early, you know, if you're really but racing for time, um You can do that then. And there are also some master judges at each checkpoint, which is what they call the bars.
00:29:36
Speaker
And so you, you know, they come around and ask you about yourself and what your theme is. And again, you perform whatever you want to, you know, to go along with it. And then give out your your bribes if you have them. and um And that's another time where it's just fun because you're with different teams, you know? So it's like you're interacting and checking things out and getting to know each other. And it's really interesting people who, not all of them, but a lot of interesting people who who take part in this. So that's a lot of fun.
00:30:07
Speaker
God, I'm just, I'm so jealous when you describe it. It's it's so, like, it sounds so fun. And it also sounds so very Chicago where you like, and get up and just do some day drinking.
00:30:20
Speaker
ah You can't do day drinking if you don't start in the morning. That's true. But I do have several questions for you. um One is, did you speak in French accents?
00:30:33
Speaker
Would it be French? Hercule Poirot? Yeah, because he's from Belgium, I believe. he's from Belgium. Okay. Yeah. So we did try and it you know, to varying degrees of good.
00:30:43
Speaker
um But our our like kind of Liz did a great job of one night. She was like late, late one night. She's like, um okay, I just got up to, to use the bathroom.
00:30:55
Speaker
um And here are some scripts that I've been thinking about while sleeping, you know, like that we can use. And so we all did us like a take on that. So it was like, oh um um i regret to inform you there has been a murder and um and then we gave them like a little evidence bag which was created including like pieces that were like from the book or movie you know like a handkerchief with an h on it and and different things like that uh not engraved what's that called
00:31:27
Speaker
Embroidered. Embroidered. Yeah. um And so then we'd be like, and please, you know, if alert the authorities. So then we'd give them a train whistle that we had had because it's a train.
00:31:38
Speaker
And then we would be like, and give them our cawing card. So caw because it was again like... ravens and crows and one of the team members she is an amazing artist and so she created these tarot look tarot card looking things for each of us um and so it was based on our like mini theme or like our sub theme so we were the journey and then it had like this beautiful drawing of a train and on the back it was like our cawing card and then others had whatever the tarot card like theme based on what their theme was as well
00:32:15
Speaker
Oh, wow. That's amazing. Okay. Another question. Could you see through the googly eyes or was it above your head? Above our head, which was great. Yeah. So it was like, if you picture the bowler hat cap or hat on your head, and then on top of that was the crow head.
00:32:34
Speaker
So they were like kind of, yeah, they were above. And we will post some photos, I hope, on Blue Sky. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. All right. And did you win any costume awards?
00:32:46
Speaker
We did not. um There were quite a few winners. I didn't make it to the after party. So there is an after party where the award ceremony takes place. I made it to the after party and on the bus ride over because they get they shuttle us.
00:32:59
Speaker
Good old Reggie's. I don't know if you ever went to Reggie's when you were in Chicago, but I think so. South Loop. Yeah. They have a giant school bus that's like painted crazy and whatever. And they drive people from their places to like the Blackhawks game or the Bulls games or, you know, whatever it is.
00:33:18
Speaker
So we use their buses to get us from the... ending um the finish line to wherever the after party is. So this year, the after party was near my parents' house, which is where I was staying. So i was like, I'm definitely going to take the bus there. So at least my Lyft ride will be last.
00:33:36
Speaker
But I just like crashed. So I was like, hey, guys, I'm going to leave, which was a bummer because the after party can be really, really fun. But I was also really proud of myself. And so I didn't get the full rundown, but I do know that, you know, some of our teams got we we got third for fundraising and then some of our teams got the first two.
00:33:56
Speaker
And then there were some other and then some of the other awards that are that they give out, which is very fun. Yeah. It's like rookie of the year, the hot mess, which I love that one. It's like team that like you were just a mess, like not in a jerky way. You weren't, a you know, you weren't a dick at all, but like.
00:34:20
Speaker
God bless, you know, like as they would say in the South, like bless your heart. like like just Like their costumes are like falling apart or that kind of thing. Yeah. And like, you know, somebody couldn't even make it past like the starting line or, you know, things like that. Or like, um yeah, so that's the hot mess, the best bribe, the best sabotage, because you can sabotage other carts if you want to and other teams if you want to.
00:34:44
Speaker
um which one year there was a really good sabotage. It was also really annoying. It was this group that dressed up as city workers. thank yeah And so they were like giving people the boot or they were towing, like they would set, they would get you hooked, your cart hooked onto their thing and then they'd pull it in like you were being towed.
00:35:06
Speaker
It was so annoying and so good. So they do have best sabotage. And then for food donations, um best in show, fastest, again, because some people actually do race for a time.
00:35:20
Speaker
Unusual materials used, which we we won one year when it was duct tape. Ooh. And then also there's art carts. So art carts are a totally different category where it's like they're humongous and they're really or they don't have to be humongous. They usually are, though.
00:35:37
Speaker
And they're really like ornate and not really meant for racing. It's more like, holy crap. You know, like there's been a dragon before that actually like spit out like fire or. Oh, my God.
00:35:50
Speaker
Yeah. This year there were four carts that were like four teams came together and they used four carts to build a giant hot dog, a Chicago style hot dog. And it looked so real and it was so humongous, big enough that they actually served freshly made hot dogs out of it in between.
00:36:13
Speaker
Wow. Yeah. i it It's making me think of Mardi Gras. Like it's getting to that level. It's like a float. Yes. it it That is such a good analogy. Like it is very in that spirit where it's like, you know, OK, what what what's your cruise theme? You know, like your parade is.
00:36:36
Speaker
Tiny things. Okay, here you go. And yeah. And everybody's dressed like unbelievably creatively. And it's just it like everybody's gone all out. I mean, not everybody, but yeah, yeah. But enough people that that you could just like walk around and look at everybody for for the whole day.
00:36:56
Speaker
So wait, what when is the afterpray? Like how long does this whole thing go for? So the yard opens for registration. I think it's 930 in the morning.
00:37:07
Speaker
You have to be in by 1130. And then the runs or the race starts at 1230. You have to be done by 530 with all five checkpoints.
00:37:18
Speaker
And if you don't do all five checkpoints or three, if you're an art cart, you get to just do three. But if you don't do all of those checkpoints, that just means that you're disqualified to win any awards. So if you don't care, then you don't care, you know, like have fun or whatever.
00:37:34
Speaker
And then the after party, they start busting you between like starting, I think, at like 5, 530. Although we were pretty fast this year, which we were all like, how? How did we do this?
00:37:46
Speaker
We're older. We're slower. Whatever. but um But anyways, yeah. And then the awards ceremony part of it starts started at least this year at like 7. Oh, wow.
00:37:58
Speaker
Yeah, that's a long day, but also very, very fun seeming. And, okay, just a quick question again about the art cart. So then they, because they have to go slower, they can go to fewer places.
00:38:12
Speaker
like Exactly. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. They get special dispensation, as the Catholics would say. Yeah. And they also don't have to meet the qualifications. Like Phyllis's is one of the stops. you remember Phyllis's over on Division and and Wood?
00:38:27
Speaker
And Phyllis's is the smallest one we go to. It's like cash only bar. There's two one-stall bathrooms. And then um they have a yard area. And so you have to be able to fit into the doorway to get into the yard of Phyllis's what it is. That's the rule. Yeah. Yeah.
00:38:47
Speaker
So a giant hot dog is not going to fit in. And like one of our friends, they they were the Aragon Ballroom.
Costumes and Creativity
00:38:54
Speaker
And so the marquee of it. And so there are these like beautiful kind of ornate dressings on it that they were like, oh, man, when we have these on, though, we can't fit through Phyllis's. So like they had to create it so that they could like slip them off, get through Phyllis's, put them back on. Yeah.
00:39:15
Speaker
can't believe Phyllis is is still cash only in 2025. Good for them. know I know. I know. Yeah. Most places have gone cashless. Not them.
00:39:26
Speaker
Yeah. They're like, nope. you we We decide how we collect your money. Which is true. So good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's really fun, too, at the after. Just going back to the after party really quickly. like Those have been that is often the best to like there's a huge dance party after and, you know, people are like getting to see people that they haven't seen at all yet because it's like we weren't on your route or you know, we didn't see each other in the yard. So you you get to meet people there.
00:39:59
Speaker
And it's also hilarious what gets left at the bars after because they don't always have it at the same places, maybe in part because. bars get tired of having us there for the after party. But like you look, I remember Amy went one year because she forgot like her, her credit card, you know, so she was going to go back to the bar to pick it up. And she's like, oh my gosh, the like refuse of costumes, like sec, like portions of costumes that were like just left there because it's like, you know, you go, you show up with your costume and you're like, yeah, I want to be wearing this. And then it's like,
00:40:34
Speaker
This is annoying or this is too hot or this has got broken or whatever. And then you just forget it and leave it there. So like, what am I going to do with a crow's head in the future? really Exactly. i left it at my mom's house and my parents' house. And my mom was like, I'll put it in the attic, like with some of your other costumes. And I'm like throw it away, mom, throw it away.
00:40:54
Speaker
It's a wonky looking crow head. And I'm never like, I'm never going need it again. Yes. like Halloween. You're going to be like, let me revisit that crow costume. i mean, you could, you could, I know mark these words. I'm sure I'm going to be like, why didn't I keep that?
00:41:10
Speaker
But I think you should always revisit the Harrison Fjord costume. m i might still have all of that. Do you have any other, other ones that you really liked that stand out for you?
00:41:23
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So um one that we did um Cabbage Patch dolls. So like we made up kind of our own versions of Cabbage Patch dolls. And so I was Patty cake.
00:41:36
Speaker
And so I was like, I made like out of a hula hoop and cardboard. i made a cake. And that was really fun and also super annoying because you're huge. And so then you're like bumping into people and trying to get like it's just it was both nice because it like created a bare a buffer for myself. Like, but I also bumped into so many more people.
00:42:00
Speaker
um And also with that, we commissioned one of Liz's friends. to draw each of us as a character, as a Cabbage Patch character. So he made us those Cabbage Patch cards or not Cabbage Patch, Garbage Pail. Garbage Pail. That's what I keep thinking. Garbage Pail kids.
00:42:19
Speaker
um So he made cards for those. That was really fun. We also, last year we were underwater. So the year before we had done soil, because Sarah is a scientist and she's specialized in soil. And so that was like,
00:42:32
Speaker
her request was like, can we do that? And we were like, sure. you know, so um I was moss that year, which was really fun. And then, but then last year we did underwater because Liz is also a scientist and she specializes, her focus was marine biology. And she just, she loves, loves to scuba dive and she just loves everything underwater.
00:42:54
Speaker
So I was a clam, no, an oyster, excuse me. And so I've made an oyster shell and Judy, my sister helped me out with that. And that was gorgeous.
00:43:05
Speaker
It was so pretty. Like I couldn't believe that she made it and it was all made out of foam and it was so pretty. Unbelievable. Wow. Yeah. That one, that one you got to keep.
00:43:16
Speaker
I hope you still have it I do. I yeah i do. i have that one. Yeah.
00:43:23
Speaker
It was so fun. It's just amazing how it like it snowballs and becomes this bigger, bigger thing and benefits the community and is tons of fun.
Community Involvement and Accessibility
00:43:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:43:33
Speaker
Yeah. And it just involves so many people. Like I had mentioned that, you know, It's all volunteers. So it's like those master judges at each of the checkpoints and everybody who's running the checkpoints and the co-organizers, as they call them, the people who are like organizing at the core of everything.
00:43:50
Speaker
All of the people that are like serving the breakfast in the morning or getting the yard set up. And then also there bike marshals. So it's people who are going around and on bikes around the city, around the route that we're taking and just making sure that everybody's behaving and like If there are any issues, they can help you out.
00:44:07
Speaker
And they're absolutely wonderful as well. So, wow, it's cool. Yeah, we could post maybe even more of those photos, like costume photos, maybe some past ones, too, if you're up for that.
00:44:23
Speaker
Yes, I'll get that from Liz because she always puts together a collage of like all of the years and then it's like, whatever year is coming up, it's like with a question mark, you know, like, what will our theme be this year? Kind of as a teaser. So yeah, I'll get that from her for sure.
00:44:39
Speaker
Did you have a favorite part this year? I always love the yard. It's the best. It's just, it's fun. My energy is like the highest and it's just lovely to go around and engage with people and like, and also see the team. Like we, we spend a decent amount of time together, especially leading up to the day of the race. But this year I saw everybody, you know, a little less. And so it's always just fun to spend time together and just be silly.
00:45:11
Speaker
How did you all meet? Did some of you know each other before you started? Some of you after? Yeah, Liz is our glue. So um she and Cheyenne know each other because Liz's boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, and Cheyenne went to college together. They were both in architecture program together. And so they became friends. And then Amy, Liz knows because someone she went to high school with went to college with Amy and Tulane.
00:45:40
Speaker
So they all became friends. And then Liz and Sarah know each other because they're both on the Illinois Science Council together, which is an organization, a nonprofit that puts together programming for adults to get interested in science.
00:45:56
Speaker
There's plenty out there for the kids. And then Liz and I know each other. We knew each other in high school. We were both um in plays at an all boys high school called Quigley. um And we were not super, super close at that time, but we were her best friend.
00:46:12
Speaker
Mary is someone who I was very close with. And Mary and I reconnected in our twenty s And then she was like, hey, Liz does this thing and they need an extra person. you know, like one of their people is this is their last year. Would you be interested? And I was like, yeah.
00:46:27
Speaker
And so then that's how I got looped in. Oh, that's so funny. Just yeah things like, oh, this ex-boyfriend's school, like this a classmate I totally you know met and then we started doing this thing. Or then, okay, way back in high school, I knew somebody. And then that led to later on becoming like really good friends with this person.
00:46:53
Speaker
I know. And that is just so Liz, like she's connected to so many people and like she's she's the type of person who she's so busy with so many like fun activities that literally when we'll be like, when should we get together?
00:47:08
Speaker
It has to be six months out and then she'll give us like two dates. Like it will work, you know, because she's just she's she stays connected to a lot of people. She stays involved in a lot of things. And that's great. Great person to know.
00:47:22
Speaker
And then you get to meet like all these people and diversity helps. I'm going to take that out. That's a little bit of a controversial statement. I'm just kidding.
00:47:33
Speaker
Don't worry. We're all white.
00:47:38
Speaker
But, you know, you had mentioned, like, of course, one of our things with this podcast is looking at how accessible it is. And it's not super accessible. like really? I feel like on a couple of levels, you know, i i If one, it's in Chicago. So as far as I know, like your question of is it in other cities?
00:47:59
Speaker
I'm not totally sure, but at least the Shai Ditarod is in Chicago. So it's like you have to get yourself there and then you have to have a team. You know, you could try to reach out to people and see if you could join a team, but you have to have a team. And so it's like for other people that also want to do this.
00:48:16
Speaker
And then the day of the race, it's like mobility is a major issue. Like if you are in a wheelchair or, you know, any other mobility issues, it could be really tricky to get around and to do the full five bars and five miles.
00:48:41
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. That's a good point. And then I would imagine that Depending on how far you want to go with your costumes, that could be cost prohibitive, depending on what you choose to do. Of course, then it's nice to know you can just put up a piece of cardboard and have it say, if running were easy, it'd be called your mom.
00:49:01
Speaker
And that seems like a pretty cheap, a cheap idea. But yeah. Exactly. The one piece that is not very um inaccessible is the shopping cart, surprisingly, you know, and so we they suggest, you know, like, don't steal a cart, but you can ask different grocery store chains, you know, like Jewel or Mariano's.
00:49:25
Speaker
If they are willing to let you borrow one for the weekend or for the month or whatever it is and then return it. And so a lot of people have had success with that. We have had success with just scouting and seeing like, for instance, we got a new one this year and it was Cheyenne has an office that's not too far from where you used to live over in the Bridgeport area. So it's she's closer to she's at 22nd and Halstead.
00:49:53
Speaker
Oh, OK. Not too far from where. you were when you were on the 18th, right? Yeah, right. In Pilsen. Pilsen, yes. But so she saw this cart that was left alone and scoped it to make sure like for several weeks that it was ah not moved, not you know used. Because you also don't want to steal somebody's mode of transportation, not that they're riding in the cart, but that they're using that to store their goods or move things around. So um that's the way that we've done it the past few years is we kind of just...
00:50:25
Speaker
see one and and then we end up using the same one for for several years um just have it stored at amy's house or at cheyenne's so was very responsible to to scout it out and then also hope that no police or grocery store comes to reclaim it too like okay is it still there okay yes right i wonder if they'll do any sort of changes over the years since it's it's always evolving, but to make it a little bit more accessible for more people.
00:51:00
Speaker
Yeah. And it seems like there's ah enough freedom for teams maybe to try and adjust what they can. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I do feel like if there were a need for it, it's um I feel like a the organization would be very open to figuring out how to make that possible.
00:51:21
Speaker
um And kind of taking, you know, taking the lead of the individual to make suggestions of like, here's what is needed for me, or us or whatever.
00:51:32
Speaker
But then also, i think that the organization would be very like willing to work with anyone to figure out how to make it more accessible and you know make whatever adjustments are necessary it does sound like that and that's fantastic and it and it all goes to a great cause exactly so it makes you feel good about drinking all day running around in a crazy costume that's what we need
00:52:03
Speaker
Well, it's fun, but you then you feel like you also did something good for society, too. Yeah. Well, thank you for sharing all of that. um Yeah.
00:52:15
Speaker
Anything that that I didn't ask that you feel like is very important for the world to know about the Shididerod and your interest in it?
00:52:27
Speaker
No. No. it's It's one of those things that's kind of always weird to explain and you don't know, like, based on your explanation, what the visual is that people are getting. So we will provide links so you can take a look and photos and and things like that.
00:52:43
Speaker
Yes, that's what I want to see. Yeah. I have ah an idea in my mind and it's sort of chaotic in my mind, like in ah in a wonderful way. so <unk> Well, and it's funny too, because at one point, so back to the head, the raven, the crow's head on my head, you know, we're like pushing the pulling pushing the cart. And i was like, oh my God, I can see inside of my head.
00:53:07
Speaker
and my my friend Liz looks over at me and she's like, are you ok And i was like, no, I mean, inside the crow's head, because it's like in your shadow, you know, you could see. So yeah, it's, it's a, it's a, fun it's a fun day.
00:53:21
Speaker
It's a fun day. It was like, did you have some psychedelics before you came here? Exactly. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for, for sharing. Yeah.
00:53:32
Speaker
Well, for anybody who loves the cause and wants to donate, they still take donations like like ah and way afterwards because I've done that before where I've like forgotten about it and then got in and donated.
00:53:45
Speaker
Witch, thank you for your donation this year. Oh, thank you for doing it. And if anybody else has any activities like this that they'd like to share with us, shoot us an email.
00:53:55
Speaker
We'd love to hear from you. Well, I guess that's it for today And stay interesting Stay interesting. Bye.
00:54:06
Speaker
Thanks for listening to today's episode. Please subscribe, comment, and like the podcast. Follow us on Blue Sky Social at CanWeInterestYouIn. Send us an email at CanWeInterestYouIn at gmail.com.
00:54:18
Speaker
And join us next time.