The Amazing Race Event Brings Excitement, Hope

The Amazing Race event brought a turnout of over 100 students racing across campus for a shot at victory! Participants started at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex then sprinted to various locations on campus where they solved puzzles, played games, and worked hard to make it back to the starting point to claim a prize.

ASU Students Parker and Camden Tetrick competed in the event as a brother bonding activity. “We got an email probably two days ago saying there were still spots and I was like, I’ve never heard of this and he’s leaving soon. So I was like, why don’t we do it together? You know, a brother bonding thing,” Parker said.

The pair dashed to the art museum where they answered a variety of questions that led them behind the basketball stadium. Their favorite part, however, was actually getting to go inside of the stadium. 

“Because of COVID, there haven’t really been any games that students can go to. And so just getting to go inside the stadium again was an awesome experience,” said Parker.

From there, they went to the Sonora Tennis Courts where they played cornohle, practiced archery, and completed a puzzle. All of this led them back to the Sun Devil Fitness Complex where they sat down to hydrate, relax, and reflect on their adventure.

There were also a variety of goodies at the finish line, with students receiving yoga mats if they finished in under an hour! 

Participants and event organizers alike were happy with the feeling of normalcy that the event allowed. Unlike the virtual events many have become accustomed to lately, this event brought Sun Devils together physically and got them outside in the fresh air. 

In addition to the fresh air and physical activity, John Davenport, who helped organize the event, appreciates how it has been a fun bonding experience that helped safely bring friends closer together. “I think my favorite part has been getting back to a sense of normalcy and just seeing students excited on campus or running from location to location, and just feeling that really cool energy and ambience all throughout campus,” Davenport said.

This event is a symbol of hope–of what life can get back to after a year of working hard to slow the spread–not to mention the University’s efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine easily available to students and staff.