Mike Thorud isn't a competitive guy, but, let's just say, Brian and Jenna Rodenz— watch your backs.
Thorud, of Chanhassen, found this year's Feb Fest Medallion on Day Two. And it is the second time Thorud has found the medallion. He also found it in 2013. That puts him only one win behind Brian and Jenna who found the medallion in a streak of sleuthing in 2009, 2010, and finally in 2015.
It took only two clues for Thorud to hone in on this year's mystery spot in Bandimere Park. Clue No. 1 included the name "Hinton," which Thorud Googled. He learned that S.E. Hinton wrote a book called "The Outsiders," which he took as it being outside. For Clue No. 2, which said "North by northwest won’t get you there; If you follow a road, make sure it has at least a pair," Thorud thought it was obvious to look somewhere in the city that was south by southeast. And he interpreted the word "pair" to mean Highway 101, which has a pair of 1s. And the only park in the area is Bandimere. And then I just started looking for hiding places. He found the medallion zip-tied to a bleacher at Ballfield No. 3 at 4:23 p.m.
Q: What's your secret? How do you decipher the clues?
A: I do substitute teaching, and I'm known as the puzzle sub. I like to start classes with a puzzle. When you're a sub, it's good to get their attention right away. You know. Kids are like 'A sub. Oh, cool, a free day!' So this also gets their mind juices going. For example, I'll ask, "If this sequence is OTTF; what comes next? What about the sequence of TTTF. Or maybe I give them a riddle, or a word to figure out. Here are the letters ERGRO. Put three letters in front, and the same three letters behind. What is the word? Or, what is a common but unusual word with three U's.
Q: How do you incorporate the Medallion Hunt into your teaching?
A: I used to teach a science class to homeschoolers. If the medallion hadn't been found by that Wednesday, I'd tell my class what the clues were, and see if the kids can figure it out.
Q: Any rules of etiquette that apply to the medallion hunt?
A: I'm at the playground, and I see some guy over by the ball field. He was looking inside the recycle bin. "Oh, now a competitor," I thought. So that was my next place to go. But there is an unwritten code of ethics. You don't want to get too close to someone else who's searching. If it's just one or two of you, you keep your distance, but if it's a crowd, you don't have to worry. So I was just biding my time, not wanting to infringe on his claim. Then he disappeared and I thought "Oh, no. He found it." Then I realized he was probably just throwing away his lunch bag. And then, sure enough, I found it in that area.
—Unsie Zuege
Copyright 2017 Chanhassen Villager/Southwest News Media/Media News Group.