It was anything but a relaxing start to the weekend on Saturday morning for the 1,100 racers competing in Ottawa's City Chase.

The competition is similar to reality show The Amazing Race where teams have to race around the city and complete challenges to advance.

In this case, organizers put 37 "Chase Points" across the city with a task to do at each one. The first team to complete ten challenges and get to the finish line wins.

"Chase Point challenges generally will try to push comfort zones," said the race's director Dave Nash. "They will be based around physical, intellectual, humourous, adventurous types of challenges."

"We're willing to do anything," said one participant. "We've eaten worms and gotten naked."

Runners could only get around by foot or by bus, and had to solve clues to even find the Chase Points.

Eventual winners Chris McQuinn and Scott Chisholm said their biggest challenge wasn't one that organizers set up for them.

"The weather for sure," Chisholm said. "It was hot and sunny and there was no escape."

The pair will now represent Ottawa in the Canadian championships in September, but there were other winners for the day.

The event raised $50,000 for Right to Play, a charity that aims to help empower the disadvantaged through sports and games.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee