You're in for some crazy fun at Fox Valley Amazing Race
Take a look at yourself. By all appearances, you're a fine, upstanding citizen … a friendly neighbor and role model who exhibits class - a good person through and through.
What people don't know about you, at least not yet, is that … you're crazy - and a little on the wild side - all in a good way, of course.
That makes you a natural for the Fox Valley Amazing Race, the local adaptation of the famously frenetic TV show in which teams follow crooked clues and conquer bizarre challenges in pursuit of victory.
Teams of four adults will dive headfirst into mind games and physical challenges when this year's event - the seventh annual - is held Aug. 15, launching from the Eola Community Center in Aurora. With more than 50 teams expected to compete, it's going to be a record-breaking year.
The priority registration deadline - which guarantees a T-shirt - is Friday, July 31, but teams can register until Aug. 12.
Everyday normal people like you will be cutting loose on some zany capers. While organizers can't spill the details on this year's challenges, here's a sampling from the past:
• Animal Frenzy - visiting the zoo to collect little-known facts on various animals;
• Fire Drill - Donning a firefighter's garb - boots, heavy coat, etc. - and hauling ladders between destinations;
• Jack and Jill - Running uphill with small cups of water to fill a large container;
• Human Caterpillar and Blindfolded Bags - self-explanatory.
For this year's race ... you have no idea what to expect. But that's half the fun. The element of surprise plays a big role. It's the reaction that matters. The best teams have just the right mix of intelligence and brawn - and it's important to have both.
And when you're competing against teams like Hot Mess Express and Nudists on Strike, you know you're in for crazy fun.
Whereas the TV show features competitors that jump from continent to continent across the globe, Fox Valley's turf is the three-city metropolis of Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery.
Teams will traverse the communities via car and foot in hopes of conquering each challenge, outsmarting the competition and navigating their way on a map to victory - like a scavenger hunt on steroids.
"There are some physical challenges, but it also involves navigation skills, planning and decision-making," said event organizer Matt Odom. "Teamwork is the No. 1 component - those who work best together will have the greatest success. Every team member needs to bring different strengths because the race requires both savvy and smarts."
The course will have a definite outdoor flair and include stops throughout the park district's network of 164 parks. In all, the race will send teams out on four different routes to 12 sites overall.
Whatever the results, the Amazing Race is a journey that connects friends with memorable good times - an odyssey of fun.
Everybody's favorite stop could be the final one at Mike and Denise's Pizzeria, Bar & Grill in Aurora, where the post-race party and awards ceremony is held. The restaurant is providing free food for race participants, including pizza, pasta, chicken wings and salad.
Even the Dos Equis guy - The Most Interesting Man in the World - has been known to make an appearance in recent years, albeit as a cardboard cutout. Maybe he'll show up in person this year to greet some of his thirsty fans.
OK, maybe that sounds a little too crazy.
• Jeff Long (jlong@fvpd.net) is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.