Mud pits, banana costumes, ice cream flavor identification . . . these are some of the summer’s more idiosyncratic competitive events. Most require advance registration, with prices increasing as race dates approach. —Sam Adams
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Chicago Beachathon A four-mile race along the lakefront involving eight “obstacles,” including hula dancing and bingo. There are prizes for the top finishers in several categories—for those wearing a grass skirt, Speedo, or dressed as a banana—as well as the fastest competitors. A party with live music and Landshark beer follows. Sat 6/26, 9 AM, North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr., chicagobeachathon.com, see Web site for packet pickup dates, $40-$60.
Muddy Buddy For this relay race, teams of two switch off between running and mountain biking, completing obstacles at the end of each leg and finishing up by crawling together through a mud pit. Packet pickup Sat 7/31, 1-5 PM, Columbia Sportswear, 830 N. Michigan, race starts Sun 8/1, 7 AM, Mini Muddy Buddy (4-13 years) at 9:45 AM, Indian Hills Farm, 16N503 Powers, Gilberts, muddy-buddy.competitor.com, $150 per team, $15 per person for Mini Muddy Buddy.
