This Saturday: Journey to the End of the Night, Chicago

This year’s Journey to the End of the Night in Chicago takes place on Saturday, May 11th. There will be a lot of people playing. I’m going to be there. And I think you should join me.

Before we get too far, a few things I’d like to note:

1) Yes, some running will be involved.
2) I am a terrible runner.
3) If you join me, I guarantee you’ll run faster than me.
4) It’s a lot of fun. It really, really is.

As a quick summary, JTTEOTN is a city-wide game of tag. Participants show up at a designated starting point (this year it’s River Park, 5100N Francisco Ave.). But before the start of the event, no one knows where the finish line is.

After you show up and register, you’re given a map detailing a series of checkpoints that you have to visit on your way to the end. How you get to each checkpoint is up to you.

Everyone playing the game is a runner, at the start. This means you get a blue armband. But note that volunteers involved with the game are playing as chasers (they are wearing red armbands). If you get tagged at any point by a chaser, you give them your blue armband… and put on a red one (becoming a chaser yourself).

You’re allowed to travel by foot or public transportation. The areas around a checkpoint, along with CTA buses, trains, and stations, are all considered “safe zones.” Anything outside that though is fair game.

Here’s a bit of video from one participant, who played last year:

I was first told about this game years ago by my friend Evan Jacover, but didn’t actually start playing until two years ago. And I have to say – I’m kicking myself for not participating sooner. I’ve had a blast both times I’ve joined in.

While the game itself is a ton of fun, what really sold me was how I felt the whole evening. Participating in this event and seeing so many other people with arm bands… it felt like you were in on this giant secret that the rest of the city didn’t know about. At several points, strangers asked me what was going on and they were delighted when I explained the game to them. I felt like a kid the whole night, and it was a very child-like experience – running and playing and simply having fun.

I got to see and interact with the city in a very different light, and though it sounds a little corny to say… that point of view has stuck with me, and in a very positive way, ever since.

A great series of photographs and videos from Ray Whitehouse (who documented my injury last year, when I was chased by Evan).

For those that know me, I’m a total homebody. I’m not someone who goes out and about doing a ton of stuff, but this is one of those events that annually pulls me from my couch, and gets me excited about being out and about.

I actually really dislike running (and am seriously considering a more CTA-based strategy this year). But you know that if I’m advocating something like this, it’s got to be worthwhile. And I really think it is: if you join, I promise you’ll have fun.

Come play?

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: River Park, 5100N Francisco Ave (Flagpole by the field house!)

Facebook 2013 Event Page
Facebook Page

[CC photo via reallocalcelebrity]

Related:
Journey to the End of the Night: Chicago, 2012
Journey to the End of the Night – 2011
Q&A: Journey to the End of the Night
Before and After I Fell on My Face: Journey to the End of the Night (Chicago, 2012)