Wicked Wheelbarrow Race Rules

2026 Festival archive, Version 1. The 2026 race has concluded; these rules remain online as a reference.

The Goal

The goal of the wicked wheelbarrow race was to have fun. These were the 2026 rules.

Before We Start, Are You SURE You Want To Do This? You Might Hurt Yourself!

This race is an inherently risky activity. By participating, you are assuming a risk of injury of your own free will and accord. We are telling you that you might hurt yourself if you try it, so think about that before you go for it. You might need to ask your spouse or guardian for permission. You agree to hold harmless Sustainable Practice and anyone at the Festival that egged you on.

The Big Idea

The general idea is to push and pull a wheelbarrow, either loaded or unloaded depending on how old you are, through our wicked obstacle course as fast as you can.

Our course has four types of obstacles:

1. The ramp: you must keep your wheelbarrow's wheel on or over the ramp the whole way. If your wheelbarrow falls off the ramp, you CANNOT keep going or try to get back on the ramp in the middle. You MUST go all the way along the ramp without falling off before you can go on to the next obstacle.
2. The snow shovel or rake limbo: you must push your wheelbarrow under the snow shovel or rake. If you knock off the shovel or rake, or knock over a tower (trash can or stack of milk crates), you must put the obstacle back together and try again. You MUST have your wheelbarrow go under the limbo cleanly before you can go on to the next obstacle.
3. The pull lane: you must turn around and run backwards, pulling your wheelbarrow. Your wheelbarrow's wheel must be clear of the pull lane before you can turn it around and run forwards. You CANNOT just turn your wheelbarrow around and keep running facing forward. You must be facing backward as you pull your wheelbarrow through the pull lane.
4. The slalom course: you must push your wheelbarrow around the tires of the slalom course.

Time Trials

Time trials are a chance to see how fast you can get through the course, there and back. You must start with your wheelbarrow's wheels behind the starting line (which is also the finish line), then go through all the obstacles and return through the obstacles. Your time starts when the race official says "GO" and ends when your wheelbarrow's wheel crosses the start/finish line after you complete the course.

Relay Final

At 2:30 we will meet in the cafeteria to recognize our fastest racers from the time trials and select teams for the final relay race. The fastest eight racers who are present will be paired up into four teams as follows:

# 1 with # 8, # 2 with # 7, # 3 with # 6, and # 4 with # 5

The teams will start with teammates on each end of the course. The starting teammates start with the wheelbarrow, go through the course, then hand off the wheelbarrow to the returning teammates, who cannot move their legs until they can touch any part of the wheelbarrow. Once the return teammate touches the wheelbarrow, the starting teammate must let go of it. The first team whose wheelbarrow wheel crosses the starting/finish line after completing the course is the winner.

Age Adjustments

The Wicked Wheelbarrow Race is open to all ages, but the very littles and the very wizened may not be able to push these adult-sized racing vehicles through the course. They may have to enjoy the race as spectators.

For people with single-digits ages, who have not yet celebrated their tenth birthday, the following age adjustments apply:

• You can unload your wheelbarrow and race without a load. (Ask for help unloading.)
• You can skip the ramp (unless you want to try pushing your wheelbarrow up and over it).

For people between the ages of 10 and 13, inclusive, or who have reached or surpassed the "I should know better" age of 65, the following age adjustments apply:

• You can unload your wheelbarrow and race without a load. (Ask for help unloading.)
• This age group must still push their unloaded wheelbarrow up and along the ramp.

For all others, no age adjustments apply.

Judge's Discretion Is Final

For each race that qualifies for the time trials and for the final relay race, there will be a judge whose decisions regarding "No, you have to go back and do it again" and what time you got and who won are final. Any disputes will be settled by the simple principle, the judge is right.

Any racer who feels aggrieved is welcome to set up their own course at their own Festival with their own judge and invite us there for a rematch.