50 + 25 points
Journey to the End of the Night: Five Years Running in SF by Brian Bartram
June 19th, 2011 10:45 AM
This was my first year participating in Journey, although I had heard of it before via the interwebz. This is also my first year in SF, just relocated here last September.
The Journey was truly epic. I arrived around 6:15 to register and I'm glad I did, by 7pm I had my manifest but the line now snaked all the way around the plaza. But the more the merrier, we were 1300 strong and the excitement was palpable.
I came alone, only have a few locals friends at present and couldn't find any willing to commit to such insanity. But that never slows me down, I'm always game for adventure. My early strategy was simple - look for large groups who seem to know what they're doing and shadow them.
Hitting the streets for the first checkpoint was like being part of a massive human tidal wave. We owned the city for those moments. A swarm, one hive mind, taking to the streets with no regard for the standards and conventions of society. The feeling of camaraderie, the paranoia, the freedom... it was infectious. I encounters chasers herding us using motorcycles, groups of runners entering a tight staircase en masse only to erupt right back from the place they entered screaming "chaser!!!".
I made it through the first checkpoint unscathed but was caught off guard by a chaser near the second. Newly minted as a chaser I learned my first chaser maxim: "never make your pursuit obvious to a runner who is both younger and more nimble than yourself". Chalk up on lost blue ribbon to the energy of youth. But wasn't long until I saw this same youngster, the "one that got away", sporting a red ribbon himself. We talked and laughed about it for a block before splitting different ways.
Third checkpoint was easy to reach, and had some great conversation hanging out with a cute chaser girl along the way. My error for not getting her name, hope to cross paths with her again in the future.
Making my way to the fourth checkpoint was where I ran out of juice. Didn't see many runners at this point, seemed like mostly chasers left. Made it to the fourth checkpoint but was totally spent, and didn't foresee having the energy to make it much further. A golden cab rode out of a low lying cloud and the cabbie leaned out and smiled at me. I took this as my queue to call it an evening, and a successful first attempt at completing the Journey.
Although I didn't complete the course I feel like my introduction to Journey was a complete success. I'm definitely going to play again, and I'm definitely raising the stakes for myself next time. In the meantime, just signed up for SFZero and looking forward to meeting players and exploring the city. My SF experience has just begun, and I'm very glad that I've found this excellent resource for play and exploration with other like-minded freaks, artists, and explorers.
A big salute to those who made it to the finish like. Congrats, what you've done is truly epic.
Finally, endless thanks to the organizers and volunteers for this event. You've created something really special, thanks for letting me be a part of it.
- Shifter
The Journey was truly epic. I arrived around 6:15 to register and I'm glad I did, by 7pm I had my manifest but the line now snaked all the way around the plaza. But the more the merrier, we were 1300 strong and the excitement was palpable.
I came alone, only have a few locals friends at present and couldn't find any willing to commit to such insanity. But that never slows me down, I'm always game for adventure. My early strategy was simple - look for large groups who seem to know what they're doing and shadow them.
Hitting the streets for the first checkpoint was like being part of a massive human tidal wave. We owned the city for those moments. A swarm, one hive mind, taking to the streets with no regard for the standards and conventions of society. The feeling of camaraderie, the paranoia, the freedom... it was infectious. I encounters chasers herding us using motorcycles, groups of runners entering a tight staircase en masse only to erupt right back from the place they entered screaming "chaser!!!".
I made it through the first checkpoint unscathed but was caught off guard by a chaser near the second. Newly minted as a chaser I learned my first chaser maxim: "never make your pursuit obvious to a runner who is both younger and more nimble than yourself". Chalk up on lost blue ribbon to the energy of youth. But wasn't long until I saw this same youngster, the "one that got away", sporting a red ribbon himself. We talked and laughed about it for a block before splitting different ways.
Third checkpoint was easy to reach, and had some great conversation hanging out with a cute chaser girl along the way. My error for not getting her name, hope to cross paths with her again in the future.
Making my way to the fourth checkpoint was where I ran out of juice. Didn't see many runners at this point, seemed like mostly chasers left. Made it to the fourth checkpoint but was totally spent, and didn't foresee having the energy to make it much further. A golden cab rode out of a low lying cloud and the cabbie leaned out and smiled at me. I took this as my queue to call it an evening, and a successful first attempt at completing the Journey.
Although I didn't complete the course I feel like my introduction to Journey was a complete success. I'm definitely going to play again, and I'm definitely raising the stakes for myself next time. In the meantime, just signed up for SFZero and looking forward to meeting players and exploring the city. My SF experience has just begun, and I'm very glad that I've found this excellent resource for play and exploration with other like-minded freaks, artists, and explorers.
A big salute to those who made it to the finish like. Congrats, what you've done is truly epic.
Finally, endless thanks to the organizers and volunteers for this event. You've created something really special, thanks for letting me be a part of it.
- Shifter
journey_04.jpg
Runners get their marching orders from the Journey to the End of the Night organizers.
journey_05.jpg
first checkpoint. made in with my blue ribbon intact!
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second checkpoint... swarming with ninja!
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third checkpoint. crappy pic, i know... i was exhausted.
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fourth checkpoint... fingernail grip on reality at this point, endorphins are one hell of a buzz.
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returned home exhausted, still sporting my chaser's ribbon.
journey_09.jpg
the manifest, and my one solitary trophy. not bad for first time out, but lots of room for improvement.
Welcome to the game Shifter.
I'm glad you had fun running Journey. I'll look forward to seeing your further exploits here on SFØ.