NORMAL - Pairs of costumed adventurers spent a cold and rainy Friday trekking across the Twin Cities in search of clues.

But nearly 250 participants in the Twin-City edition of the Great Urban Race didn't let weather dampen their demeanor.

"It could be worse, it could be snowing," joked Kathy Rossetti, an Illinois State University senior from Palatine, shortly after a downpour left her drenched, walking toward uptown Normal.

The biology major and her Dynamic Duo teammate Barb Reinagle, an ISU staff member, joined hundreds at the race's start at the ISU Alumni Center on North Main Street in Normal.

Each team had to navigate their way by walking or using public transportation.

Once done, each team crossed the finish line at the north end of ISU's quad and checked in with judges.

Held in Normal plus 19 major U.S. cities this year and culminating next month in New Orleans, the Great Urban Race is the creation of entrepreneur and ISU alumnus Joe Reynolds. It's modeled after the "Amazing Race" reality television show, but this scavenger hunt sends racers on a one-day venture through one city.

The Normal race was pegged for this week's ISU homecoming and will return for next year's homecoming, said event organizer Ryan Kunkel.

Friday's championship title went to team Bumblebeetuna: Britt Mason and April Scherman. The pair finished with a time of 1 hour, 56 minutes.

The feat lands ISU alum Scherman and her teammate a spot in the race finals Nov. 7 in New Orleans, and they'll have registration fees waived. Racers there will compete for $10,000.

Brothers Jason Butler of Arcola and Jonathan Butler of Normal, both ISU alums, also plan to make the New Orleans trip. Their team, A Mighty Wind, placed in the top 25, which qualified them to enter the finals.

The brothers also hoped for a costume award. They were decked out in mullet-style wigs, junior-varsity football jerseys and plastic, naked buttocks - a play on their team name.

The Butlers smiled and laughed after reaching the finishing line along with two other teams with whom they'd spent the day: The Kings Neophyte and Technogeek (brothers Andrew and Ben Matthews of Normal) and Blondetourage (Cheryl Oltman and Stephanie Bowers of Bloomington).

They shared stories of learning to line dance at a Bloomington bar; making origami at the Children's Discovery Museum and posing piggyback under a McDonald's sign.

Deb Skillrud, who with fellow McLean County Habitat for Humanity employee Kristin Sand made up Habitat Bratz, said her favorite part of the race was solving the clues and creating a strategy to reach the locations quickly.

The costumed pairs dotting downtown Bloomington and uptown Normal caught the attention of lunchtime crowds. Wayne Winders of Bloomington was heading into Kelly's Bakery and Café, one of the 12 clue sites, when he did a double take.

"Right before I walked in I saw these people, maybe four different groups, posing outside for pictures," he said. "I didn't know what was going on. Someone told me it was the Great Urban Race, and I was like 'What's an urban race?'"

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Rock the Red

The Great Urban Race was part of Illinois State University homecoming. Following is a list of other homecoming events today:

7 a.m. - Town and Gown 5K Run, Schroeder Plaza

9:30 a.m. - Parade step-off, corner of College Avenue and University Street

11 a.m. - Tailgating begins at designated lots

2 p.m. - Illinois State vs. Indiana State, men's football, Hancock Stadium

6:30 p.m. - Uptown and Gown Gala, Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center

For a complete list of homecoming events, visit www.illinoisstatehomecoming.com