CHIditarod VIII. March 2, 2013
Making the epic “epic” for the past 7 years, now entering its 8th year.
CHIditarod (ʃai*dit’*ə*rɒd): n.) the annual Chicago-based phenomenon that combines elements of the Alaskan Iditarod® with Chicago’s finest brand of debaucherous social activism. Part food drive, part race, part beauty pageant, part bar crawl. A spectacle like no other.
On March 2nd Chicago’s mushers, artists, philanthropists, craftswomen, action heroes, pub-crawlers, professional badasses, cartoon characters, activists, ninjas, saboteurs, old people, robots, unicorns and enthusiastic leisurists will assemble yet again to perpetrate what is *probably* the world’s largest mobile food drive — CHIditarod VIII
RACE: Team registration: http://bit.ly/chirod-2013-team-signup
VOLUNTEER: Volunteer registration: http://bit.ly/chirod-2013-volunteer-signup
PARTICIPATE: Keep reading!…
“RUNNING ROUGHSHOD OVER HUNGER SINCE 2006”
1) RACE
Assemble your team of five – answer the call to glory. To fend off procrastination and make race-day logistics actually doable, NO walk up registrations allowed. Period. Registration, in fact, closes two weeks ahead of the race (i.e. no new teams or name changes for registered teams). Tiered registration benefits those who act early!
NEW and reinforced this year: There will be late fees assessed to any teams that have not paid in full both registration and cart deposits by February 16th. And all sales are final!
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”http://bit.ly/chirod-2013-team-signup” target=”on” ]Register Now[/button]
- Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 – CHIditarod VII
- Registration Fees *:
- $50/team, January 15th – 26th
- $55/team, January 27th – February 9th
- $65/team, February 10th – 16th
- REGISTRATION CLOSES February 16th.
- Registration is limited to first 160 teams registered and fully paid, all others will be put on a wait list. No exceptions.
- Food requirement – 55 lbs per team (bring to starting line)
- Cart deposit – $80
- Art Carts are back in 2013
* For the eagle eyed amongst you, pricing has gone up since last weeks notice of opening registration…. due to fiscal cliff (and permits)
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”http://bit.ly/chirod-2013-team-signup” target=”on” ]Register Now[/button]
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer with the most capable event producers in the known universe. CHIditarod is for the people, and by the people and without you the CHIditarod wouldn’t happen! At least 200 solid volunteers are needed and we want you to join us. Tons of opportunities to make the day even more extraordinary and enjoyable… We swear, it’s fun – especially if you can remember it the next day. Promise. Please plan to attend our volunteer orientation on February 27th. There will be drink specials and good company – it’s a fun Wednesday evening 😉
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”http://bit.ly/chirod-2013-volunteer-signup” target=”on” ]Volunteer Now[/button]
3) DESIGN CONTEST
The 2013 design contest continues to kick into full gear through midnight January 26th. We WANT your entries! Don’t be lame, flex those graphic design skills and step on up to get the fame you know you deserve! Submit designs for patches, t-shirts, or flyers – Winners get Chiditaschwag and race for FREE. Don’t keep all the glory for yourself – send this contest to your artsy friends – even if they’re not racing or volunteering.
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”/design-contest/” target=”on” ]Design Contest[/button]
4) PRE ORDER: PATCHES & T-SHIRTS —- NOW WITH MORE DWOLLA!
Patches – You know you want ’em….even if you don’t know the design just yet. Pre-orders of black on white patches are available up until Wednesday, February 6th. Patch pre-orders for teams will be included in your racer packs when you go through registration. Pre-orders for volunteers or others will be available for pick up from the Merch Queen at the start and finish lines.
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”/store/” target=”on” ]Merch Shop now open[/button]
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T-shirts – That totally awesome fresh & extra layer for race day! Once the design contest closes and designs are selected, we’ll allow you all to pre-order your perfect chiditashirt. This year we are again offering hella-comfy bamboo t-shirts screen printed by Allen Larson at Galactic Clothing. Expect updates and online ordering available February 1st through close of registration on February 16th. All pre-orders will be available for pick up from the Merch Queen at the start and finish lines.
Please note that all sales are final!
Pre-orders: COMING SOON! Watch our twitter and facebook feeds for announcement.
5) FUNDRAISE
We still lay claim to being “Probably the World’s Largest Mobile Food Drive.” Our philanthropic efforts continue to expand to help address urban food and hunger challenges by partnering with food pantries and urban farming and food education organizations.
Food Donations – Greater Chicago Food Depository will return as our revered food beneficiary for a second year. We’re also changing things up this year by making public where our checkpoints will be a minimum of two weeks in advance of the race so that Checkpoints can get in on the action for collecting food and competing for trophies as well!
Financial Donations – In the past, both food and funding have gone to the same organization, but in our efforts to diversify knocking out hunger we’ve schemed up something brand new for 2013. Introducing the creation of the CHIditarod Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization focused combating hunger in Illinois via education and partnerships focused on solving hunger problems and food deserts within Chicago through education and urban farming.
Fundraise for your teams
Make a Direct Donation
ChiditaPROM
Totally brand new for 2013! We are super stoked to announce that Friday, February 8th, the Chiditarod is hosting its very own official Chiditafundraiser! Expect 80’s DJ goodness, photo-ops & hosted bar (for at least a few hours). Teams will have the opportunity to “sell” tickets to the event through their fundraising pages – there will be a maximum capacity so this is on a first come – first serve basis. Chiditaprom is all 80’s themed, so please deck yo’self out proper for “A ‘Rod to Remember”!
[button type=”simple_button_link” url=”/prom/” target=”on” ]Rock the Prom[/button]
STAY CONNECTED
First and foremost, join the announcement group. It only sends official information, and very rarely. No chat, no spam, nothing but the raw facts. If you don’t hear it here, it might as well not exist (and could be sabotage propaganda… beware!).
Second and secondmost, You should like the Chiditarod Mushbook aka our Facebook page.
Third and thirdmost, follow and tweet at @chiditarod on Twitter. Hashtag suggestions: #sabotage #mush #glory #epic.
Tweeting your favorite Chiditarod photo’s and taunting the competition via social media is fun. If you have a Twitter account (chances are someone on your team does), then we’ll be watching the tweet feeds for the most outrageous mentions for Chiditapimping, leading up to race day, AND on race day. We’re looking to do some live twitter feeds.. stay tuned.
You must include the tag @chiditarod to be heard.
“Might as well face it, you’re addicted to ‘Rod.”