Amazing Race, minus the cameras, Phil, and the million dollars

by Greg...
On Friday March 5th, Nicolle and I got to participate in an Amazing Race type event taking place in downtown Greensboro. We were excited to do "Around Downtown in 80 Minutes" because Greg has organized a number of these races for family, friends and coworkers, but has only raced in these events twice, and never with Nicolle as a partner.

This was a risky move on both Greg and Nicolle's part for many reasons:

1. They are both very competitive
2. Greg finished 2th & 5th respectively in the races he has been in
3. Unlike the previous races which had 40-60 people in then, this race had 95 teams of two (or 190 individuals)
4. Greg is fat and had not exercised in 3 or 4 weeks
5. Nicolle is always right
6. Greg is always right
7. Reason 5 + Reason 6 = Marriage counseling if Reason 5 does not = Reason 6

Anyway, we got arrived at the race with time to map out our route. On the 4th review of our
route Nicolle recommended a gutsy move, which -if performed with precision, accuracy, and speed -could vault us into the running for a top spot. Greg felt this tactic would demand too much needed time and result in absolute failure.

After much discussion, Greg finally gave in to the high risk, high reward strategy.

Then the gun sounded, grandmothers trampled crying babies, and we were off.

Over the next 57 Minutes and 12 seconds Nicolle and Greg dodged, jumped, answered questions and ran around downtown Greensboro.

The race went considerably faster than Nicolle and Greg had planned, and despite not knowing that the population in downtown Greensboro is not 1000 (rather 1500) people, we finished getting to all the stops.

As we sat and waited for the results (scoring was based on how many points and bonus points received-time finished was the tiebreaker, if needed) there were some raffles. This provided one of the humorous highlights of the evening. A guy who looked like my brother in law Bryant (see below) won a complete hair cut and style package from a local salon.

Calgon Take me away

In a stroke of good luck, Greg won a Triad Stage coffee cup and Nicolle won a Gift basket from a local boutique bakery.

Then the announcement of the 3rd place winner was announced (this was good for 4 tickets to Triad Stage) it was ........ some other team.

We were sad that we did not win those tickets, but we maintained hope that might have gotten 2nd place. But alas, the prize of a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant went to some lucky couple who think neon green and pink are still in style. (I wonder if they heard MC Hammer wasn't 2 legit to quit?)

Then came the Grand prize:
1 night stay at the Greensboro Biltmore Hotel
Dinner for 2 at 223 Elm Street (easy to find on GPS)
8 Tickets to any show at Triad Stage
and Bragging rights

IT WAS US. WE WON. Greg grabbed the microphone and started thanking his keen sense of direction, his agent, his cow "No Horns" who made him hate cows so much that he had no issue eating meat, which gave him the mental acuteness to figure out the fastest route. When the music started playing he asked Nicolle if she had anyone to thank, but then remembered to thank his old teammate Micheal Aagard, "We did it Micheal, We did it."

The tears were flowing, the pain and suffering were worth it. The years of training had paid off , for this moment, this one moment in time..
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel
I will feel eternity

Go TEAM USA