Jeremy Barber: An Urban Challenger
[Editor's Note: We're happy to bring to you the long-planned-for DCist Interview. Many of our sibling sites have used their Interview to find, meet and write about some of the most interesting people who reside in their respective cities. And we plan to do the same, so if you know of a townie, other locals or interesting transient, e-mail staff [at] dcist [dot] com.]
Name: Jeremy Barber
Age: 28
Location: U Street Corridor
Jeremy Barber will be traveling to Miami this weekend to compete for the national championship in the Urban Challenge, a race that ties together endurance, urban know how, and navigational prowess into a 2-3 hour race through one's city, using only your own two feet and public transportation to get you and your teammate (in this case Elsie Huang, pictured left) from point A to point B for the chance to win $50,000. Growing and growing each year, the Urban Challenge is now sponsored by Verizon Wireless, and is adding cities each season.
For a more detailed summary of what the race is, take a look at the official rules, but in a quick sum-up: Teams of two must solve riddles to reach checkpoints stationed around the city. The first team to take a photo of themselves at each checkpoint and cross the finish line wins. But there are only cash prizes at the national competition, which shifts from city to city each year.
There are some side rules that add complications, and from this DCist's own experience with the race (we finished in the D.C. regional's top 10 this year), there is always something odd that happens along the way (piss of State Department security guards when you think one of the checkpoints is inside the department's courtyard; BTW, we weren't allowed inside to get the photo taken).
Barber could be described as an experienced Urban Challenger. He's run in five races, and is preparing for his sixth this weekend.
(1) Washington D.C., summer 2002, 11th Place
(2) Washington D.C., summer 2003, 7th Place
(3) New Orleans, Semi-Finals, fall 2003, 5th Place
(4) New Orleans, Finals, fall 2003, 6th Place
(5) Boston, summer 2004, 1st Place
(6) Miami, Semi-Finals, this weekend, ??
What has been your favorite Urban Challenge city to run in so far?
New Orleans (it was fun to run in a town that I did not know -- made it more of an adventure).
Part of any good Urban Challenge team is a well-organized home base operation where you can call in clues to be figured out while you're on the run. A good combination leads to key wins. What's your strategy to win the national finals?
Build a home base with people from blue states, and run like I'm trapped in a red state.
In your times running the D.C. Urban Challenge, what has been your
favorite clue/answer?
2003 -- Checkpoint 8: I Saw One in a Park!
Checkpoint 8 shares its name with the most massive of living forms and one of the longest living species on earth. Find it south of M Street and north of the Potomac.
Answer: Sequoia.
I liked this one because it was a riddle. A few of us were chatting
together on the phone as we ran through Georgetown and we solved this one by brainstorming together. That is how the clues should be -- not historical facts that require the Internet to solve.
What about a favorite/random D.C. Urban Challenge experience? Who knew we had a piece of the Berlin Wall here in the greater DC metro area? That's why this game is awesome -- even the most tried and true urbanites learn new things about their city when they run the Urban Challenge.
We aren't sure if there is a critical path in life you must take to become a champion Urban Challenger, but can you describe your life in five sentences or less?
Born in New Jersey with little hair and a passion for playing games. Moved between Texas and Pennsylvania and Texas and Pennsylvania. Spent college at MIT while eating a lot, drinking a lot, and wearing baggy clothes. For two years volunteered for the Peace Corps in western Africa, teaching math and computers, eating bad food, and learning to live without the niceties of life. Moved to D.C. to go to law school and fall in love ... all still with little hair and a passion for playing games.
Outside-the-Beltway Hometown: Suburban Philadelphia
How long have you lived in Washington: Since August 2001
Occupation: Yet another attorney in D.C.
Metrorail line and/or bus line of choice ... or do you drive? Currently: Green Line. Formerly: Green Ford Escort.
Favorite watering hole: Café Saint Ex at 14th and T.
If a meteor were to crash into the Atlantic sending a 1000 foot tidal surge into Washington, and assuming the Beltway is clogged with traffic fleeing the city, where would you watch the tidal wave crash into the city? Sadly, on my television.
Should D.C. keep the taxi cab zone system or replace with meters? METERS!
Do you think the baseball stadium will actually get built? Marion Barry just got elected again, so anything is possible.