Imagine running a race… that you don’t have to wake up early for!
Where you are encouraged to take all of the shortcuts you can find.
And you can even take a break and hop on the bus.
Of course, there is one catch…
A few sneaky robots lurk along the way.
At any moment, one might pop out around a corner and tag you, turning you into one of them!
This is Robot Apocalypse: Journey to the End of the Night (RA:JEN). This classic city-wide game of zombie tag is coming back to Chicago on Saturday, September 20th. Meeting up at the start of the night in Lincoln Park, everyone will get a map with a list of secret checkpoints to visit along the way, along with two ribbons:
One will be red. One will be blue.
The blue one will be placed on your arm. The red one will go in your pocket.
If you get caught, you will hand over your blue ribbon as a prize to the chaser. You will take the red ribbon out of your pocket and place it around your arm. You are now a robot. The object of the game is to get to checkpoints without getting tagged or to catch as many runners as you can.
This is a footrace–As you go from place to place, only your own two feet and public transit are permitted. No bicycles, no skates, no cars, no taxis.
And remember that it might not be enough to be fast… stealth and resourcefulness will help you survive this challenge!
T-shirts are available for those who donate to help keep this event sustainable.
The course
This is classified information, not to be announced until you receive your map at the start of the race! However, the start will be in Lincoln Park, near the zoo administration building at Clark and Armitage.
The total distance of the most direct route will be around 5 miles/8k through the nearby neighborhoods, but expect some extra distance as you avoid chasers (or do some chasing yourself). If that sounds like a daunting distance, remember public transportation is a valid option, and that buses and trains (including stops) are safe zone!
At each checkpoint, you meet our crew of volunteers who have designed an experience you will should find strange, fun, and welcoming. These experiences may include a few additional challenges for you to complete, but all checkpoints are also “safe zones” from getting tagged. Feel free to take a rest at each one! But you’ll also need to make it to the finish before the end of the night…
The finish
Whether you make it out as a human, or join the robots and try to catch as many other people as you can, expect to see a side of the city you’ve never experienced before. Grab some takeout and join your fellow competitors afterwards to hear and share your craziest stories of the night at the end. Near misses, amazing tags, and fast friends made in the alleys you’d never have ducked down if it weren’t for RA:JEN.
Rules
1. Chasers (Robots) may only catch one person at a time.
2. You must take the blue ribbon before you tag another runner.
3. Checkpoints are safe zones. No one can be tagged in a safe zone.
4. Safe zones will be noted on the map you receive in the beginning. (Both sides of the street are safe.)
5. Public transportation is always a safe zone. The only thing that counts as public transit are buses and trains.
6. If there is an argument about who got caught, you settle it like adults in the dark of night between each other remembering the game is meant to be fun. (Runners make final decisions on whether or not they got caught.)
How to survive the night?
- Travel light. The less you have weighing you down, the faster you’ll be escaping chasers. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, bring some water and possibly a camera.
- Arrive a little early. Organizers will be at the start early, so you can collect a map and plot out your route without time pressure. If you don’t have a plan, you could find yourself running in the wrong direction.
- When you see a chaser, run. Get around a corner and hide, or try to make it to the nearest safe zone. Always know where the nearest safe zone is.
- Bring a friend or two. Preferably ones you can outrun.
- Fill up your transit card. Parts of the journey may be faster on public transit. Also, a transit map may prove useful.
- The most direct route between two checkpoints is likely to be the way most patrolled by chasers. Take a longer route to reach the safe zone from another angle.
- Keep your eyes open. Anyone could be a chaser.
Move quickly, but try not to draw suspicion. They’ll be looking for your ribbon (you can’t hide it), but it’s dark and details are often hard to see at a distance. If they start moving towards you, be ready to run.
Past Journeys:
Since 2006, Journey to the End of the Night has delighted thousands of people all around the world as a challenge that pits your wits against the city streets. Originally created by Ian Kizu-Blair, Sean Mahan, and Sam Lavigne, it has had runnings in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Vienna, and of course, Chicago!
Some past runnings that Story Luck has hosted include:
