Mush!

Last weekend I had the privilege of witnessing the inaugural run of the Chiditarod here in Chicago. Modeled after San Francisco’s Urban Iditarod, contestants form teams of “dogs” and “mushers”. Using a shopping cart for a sled, teams race to complete a five mile course, collecting food along the way to give to charity. The course this year began at Wicker Park’s Pontiac Café and ended (appropriately) at a local bar called the Hideout. Before the 12:30pm start time, crowds gathered in the Pontiac parking lot, some to cheer and some to prepare for battle.

Spring was in the brisk March air as racers and revelers gathered on the bustling and much ballyhooed Wicker Park corner of North and Damen. Carts adorned with colorful drapes and fashioned with cardboard cutouts, stood majestically before their mushers and “dogs”, who were equally resplendent in spandex and spangles. The electricity was palpable as onlookers cradled lattes and team members stayed limber by smoking cigarettes. Suddenly, an eruption of whistles signaled contestants to take their marks. Shouts of joy and anticipation came from the surrounding crowd. In an instant, the thunderous crack and telltale plume of smoke from the starter's pistol rose up, and the carts were off in a blur of steel and fanfare. As the teams rattled and surged up the block and out of sight, fans waved flags and made calls of encouragement. How would the racers fair? Where would they find food to load up their carts? How would they survive the perils of the city streets? It would be an adventure only they would come to know.

I’ve already started recruiting potential mushers and hounds for next year. I can’t think of a more perfect company event for ShopLocal.com than sponsoring a cart in next year’s Chiditarod. Maybe with a little coaxing we could sponsor the whole event! Perhaps I could be dubbed Queen of the Ciditarod and start carrying a scepter to work…

I think I need a cup of coffee.

Good Luck and Good Shopping! Remember, it's always a good time to donate to a worth cause, rain or Chiditarod.