The race on Sunday was meant to mirror a day in the life of a working messenger — except for the absence of cars and trucks, which were blocked by police barricades from the course’s 17-block area. Participants chose from dozens of trips between 11 checkpoints. Those trips, listed on the manifests, included standard and rush deliveries of envelopes, boxes and tubes, with varying values assigned. Software created by a former messenger kept track of the trips and electronic earnings, occasionally throwing in an intentional setback for the sake of verisimilitude. The aim of the race was to complete as many lucrative trips as possible within the allotted time; whoever accumulated the highest dollar amount would be declared the winner.

Participants faced some of the same risks present during actual runs. Slick streets could cause crashes. Frustration over a bit of bad luck could result in a loss of focus. Rudeness to checkpoint volunteers playing the part of receptionists or mailroom clerks could carry a penalty, in this case disqualification.

“Being fast is secondary to being smart in this race,” said Josh Weitzner, a race organizer and an owner of Samurai Messenger Service in the city.

Another organizer, Austin Horse, who works with Flash Courier in New York and won the previous two North American championships, which were held in Minneapolis and Denver, said success often depended upon the ability to scan a manifest quickly, identify the most profitable runs and keep track of which pickup and drop-off trips could be effectively combined.