This time on the Amazing Race

Bryan participated in the Clockwork Home Services Amazing Race last Saturday. It was a very creative and well-planned "team building" exercise based on one of our favorite TV shows. His partner, Mary, has lived in Sarasota for 30 years, so she knew all the short cuts for getting from place to place, which proved to be a great advantage. Also an advantage: she is a long-distance runner, and she really put Bryan to the test.

The race started at Longboat Key where they were instructed to make their way to Lido Beach. There they recieved a clue to kayak in the Gulf of Mexico around two buoys to recieve their next clue.

After that, they had to go to the Clockwork parking garage -- a pit stop on the race, and the last team to arrive was eliminated from the race. Bryan and Mary came in third place for that leg of the race. Their next clue instructed them to assemble Mr. Potato Head parts onto a watermelon (which required them to find, on foot, the parts that were hidden throughout the seven-level parking garage). Then, with watermelon head in tow, they used public transportation to get to the local high school -- another pit stop. Bryan and Mary got there first and won a fabulous prize (a Suduku puzzle), another team was eliminated. The next task was "longer or shorter." They chose longer and had to run to the side of the high school and throw eggs from a 30 foot distance into a fish net without breaking them. They got their next clue, which sent them, by bike, to the mall, where another team got the boot. Bryan's team was the first team there, and he had to serenade his watermelon head to the tune of "Somewhere Out There," in front of the shoppers. Good thing Bryan has no trouble being the center of attention!

From the mall, they had to hitch hike to on Oyster Bar where the last team was eliminated -- Bryan and his partner were first again!-- and the survivors had to choose hot or cold. They chose cold. Bryan happily allowed his partner to do the eating, and she had to eat raw oysters. Yuck!

The next clue took them, by foot, to a beach access about a mile away. Another team was eliminated, but Bryan was first again and won another "great" prize (a lava lamp -- white elephant gift anyone?). There they had to play baseball with waterballoons and an oar, then run about two miles on the beach to the final pit stop.

Let's just say Bryan isn't much of a runner. He was totally beat by this time. I was there to see him finish the race and could tell he was exhausted (running in the FL heat is not fun). The last task was a relay race on the beach where the teams were dressed in flippers to complete several tasks. Bryan and his partner, after taking first the entire race, came in second place.

A close second (and a very tired Bryan).

We've always said it would be fun to go on the real Amazing Race together. Now he has practiced up...maybe we'll submit our application (probably not - but it would be cool). Anyway, this was a pretty neat activity. I think it would make for a fun family reunion.