'Pokémon Go' Players: Patch Wants to Follow a Trainer During an Upcoming Meet-Up (NEW DEADLINE!)

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Still want to be Patch and Downtown Highland Park's designated Pokémon Go trainer Saturday? We've extended the deadline to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5. Read on to find out what you need to do.

ORIGINAL STORY

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — It's been almost a month since the release of Pokémon Go, this year's summer fad on par with flash mobs, Gangham Style and Occupy Wall Street. That's been more than enough time for North Shore residents to hone their skills as Pokémon trainers in an effort to catch all of the game's 142 creatures.

Do your family and friends only know what the top of your head looks like because you're constantly looking down at your phone trying to find the next PokéStop? Does your idea of working out at the gym include pumping up your Bulbasaur's stats and not pumping up your atrophied lats? When you hear that someone's caught Snorlax, do you get jealous instead of thinking that person should see a doctor? If you answered "yes," then we want to hear about you.

Patch and Downtown Highland Park are looking for Pokémon Go players to put their Pokéballs where their mouth is. We want to document a day in the life of an accomplished trainer and take a camera crew behind the scenes to spotlight that trainer's mad Pokémon Go skills and strategy during the Pokéwalk Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Highland Park. The trainer and the video will then be featured on Patch.com—as well as the Downtown Highland Park website—in an upcoming story about the Highland Park Pokémon Go meet-up.

RELATED: 'Pokémon Go': A Map of Where to Catch 'Em in Highland Park

How do you earn that distinction? It's easier than trying to capture a Mew. Here's what you need to do:

In 100 words or less, tell us why you're a master Pokémon Go trainer who we should follow. Why do you enjoy Pokémon Go? What's your favorite Pokémon that you've captured? How did you become so good at the game? This is your chance to brag about your Pokémon prowess, as well as explain why it would be fun to watch you play the game.

We'll pick our trainer from the best submission we receive. The only other qualification: You must be attending—or be willing to attend—the Highland Park Pokéwalk Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 6 (that's where and when we'll be recording you).

Entries should be sent to joe.vince@patch.com and include "Patch Pokémon Trainer" in the subject field. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.

RELATED: 'Pokémon Go' Pokéwalk Challenge in Downtown Highland Park

We're waiting, North Shore Pokémon Go trainers. Tell us why you're the best. And then get ready to show everyone.

PHOTO: Screen cap from a video demo of "Pokémon Go." (Jouer Video Channel | YouTube)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Learn how to create a Patch user account
• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Live Traffic and Transit Updates