CHARITY WILL BE THE BIG WINNER AT THE LONG BEACH URBAN QUEST ON JULY 21 WHERE TEAMS MUST "Think on Their Feet"
(Two-person Teams Race Around Town Deciphering Clues to Find Checkpoints, Using Only Their Feet and Buses; and Using Digital Cameras to Prove They've Visited the Checkpoints)

URBAN QUEST IS the "human race" where two-person teams begin with a lightning round of trivia before speeding around the City of Long Beach, deciphering clues to find approx. 12 checkpoints, while using only their feet and public transportation, and quickly photographing themselves at each of the checkpoints.

URBAN QUEST is a combination TV reality game show, scavenger hunt and a mind-boggling endurance event that is expected to last about 2 1/2 hours.

URBAN QUEST will take place in Long Beach on Sunday, July 21 beginning promptly at 9 a.m. A mandatory pre-race trivia contest will begin at 8:30 a.m. See information below about the secret starting point.

BEFORE POUNDING the pavement, teams compete for their starting position with a timed quiz to answer about 20 trivia questions that deal with subjects of general knowledge & Long Beach. The team that scores highest on the trivia challenge will begin Urban Quest at 9 a.m., followed two minutes later by the next best scorers, and so on.

Along the racecourse, contestants will use their razor-sharp minds to unravel clues as they race between destinations. A checkpoint clue might be a word scramble, a fill-in-the-blank, a geography question, a math equation, a Long Beach trivia question or more.

BEING PHOTOGRAPHED by a stranger is part of the challenge teams face throughout the race. Teams must convince a bystander to photograph both teammates together in front of each checkpoint with the team's digital or Polaroid-type instant photo camera.

IN ORDER TO WIN bragging rights as the URBAN QUEST champions, a team has to be the first to cross the finish line and provide proof that they visited all checkpoints, as documented by a digital camera or Polaroid-type instant photos.

At the URBAN QUEST, also known as the UQ, it's important to use your IQ to think on your feet and to utilize available resources. Through the anticipated 2-3 hour event, it helps to be street savvy and knowledgeable about Long Beach streets and the Long Beach transit system.

JUST BEFORE THE QUEST begins, each team will receive a UQ Clue Sheet to find checkpoints throughout the City. The UQ Clues are based almost entirely on city landmarks, businesses, restaurants, streets and other places of interest.

There are no markings at the desired destinations, so competitors never know how they're faring until they cross the finish line. As you may already have figured out, this is not your average 10K road race.

IT'S NOT IMPORTANT to be an athlete to participate in the URBAN QUEST. In fact, the longest distance between checkpoints and/or bus stops is only about 1/3 mile. About half of the entire course is done fastest on public transportation. The way to do well in this race is to use your brain and your resources. You can call a friend on a cell phone; ask another team for advise; ask a stranger to help solve a clue; and get a frequent bus rider to help you with a route.

THE START LOCATION will be posted during the day on Thursday, July 18 on the Urban Quest Web site at http://www.JustinRudd.org. Actually, there will be a simple clue, and when it is solved, spectators and contestants will be able to locate the starting area. Participants are required to gather at the starting point no later than 8:30 a.m. on race day, Sun., July 21 for a UQ overview and the pre-race trivia challenge that will determine each team's starting position.

Each entrant will be required to sign a waiver and release on the morning of the event.

Teammates are encouraged to wear matching apparel.

THE FINISH AREA will be revealed after solving a UQ Clue found on each participant's UQ Clue Sheet.

Once the quest begins, racers can choose to run or take advantage of the Long Beach public transportation system. When and where a team decides to hop on a bus is up to them.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS to get about -- by foot or public transit. At no time will you be allowed to use a bike, skateboard, inline skates, cars, or taxis. Be smart and use public transit when you can!

There is no set course for URBAN QUEST and the checkpoints are not marked. So, teams who know how to get around town and who are trivia savvy are bound to be a bit ahead of the game.

PARTICIPANTS MAY USE DEVICES such as cell phones, bus guides, maps, GPS units and other references. They may ask unsuspecting urban dwellers for help, call their relatives, call their high school teacher, and even give other teams false information. Teams may also call friends logged onto the Net for quick reference work.

Race organizers anticipate a winning finish time at approx. two hours and 15 minutes. The longest distance between checkpoints and/or bus stops is about 1/3 mile. Anyone remaining on the course after three hours is asked to find and solve the UQ Finish Clue on the UQ Clue Sheet which will return each team to the finish area to join the after-gathering.
Teammates must prove a visit to each checkpoint along the race course by taking a team photograph at each checkpoint.

The entry fee is $25 donation (per team) and should be paid in cash on the morning of the race. Each team's $25 entry fee will go into the event jackpot. If your team wins, every dollar in the jackpot will be donated to your team's non-profit charity-of-choice.

To register, simply e-mail your name and age, your teammate's name and age, your team name and your team's charity-of-choice to the UQ organizer, Justin Rudd. JustinRudd@aol.com. You may also register the morning of the race at the start location.

In addition to bragging rights, prizes will be awarded for first and second place teams.

First Place Team: $100 cash
Second Place Team: $50 cash

Additional prizes donated by:
Holly's Hallmark, Belmont Shore
Luna, Belmont Shore

THE BEST PRIZE is the fact that the winning team gets to donate 100% of the entry fees from all participants to their non-profit charity-of-choice!

There will also be a prize for the best-dressed team!

More Rules to Play By
· Participants under 18 must be teamed with a parent or legal guardian.
· Team numbers will be provided and must be worn throughout the event.
· Each team must cross the finish line together.
· At no time will a team be allowed to use a bike, skateboard, inline skates, car or taxi.
· Teams must consist of only two individuals.
· Teams must provide their own camera.
· Teams may give false information to another team.

PARTICIPANTS WILL WANT TO BRING some money for bus fares, some water for your thirst, a cell phone, a city map and a bus guide book.

Teammates are encouraged to wear matching apparel. There is a prize for the best-dressed team!

We are always seeking folks to volunteer their time on the day of the event. From signing people in and collecting liability waivers to supervising the contestants along the route, it takes several volunteers at each URBAN QUEST event to make it a success. Can you give a few hours in the morning of July 21 to help?

We also are searching for more cash prizes, gift certificates and other merchandise to offer as incentives to get participants interested in competing. If you, your business or organization can help out, please contact the UQ organizer Justin Rudd at justinrudd@aol.com

URBAN QUEST!
Long Beach, CA
Sun., July 21
Race @ 9 a.m.
Trivia Challenge @ 8:30 a.m.
Race organizer: Justin Rudd, JustinRudd@aol.com
On the Net: http://www.JustinRudd.org