“Our Biggest Hurdle Has Been Crossed” – An Interview with The Amazing Race 10’s Lauren

RealityNewsOnline: It’s nice to get to talk to you, but I’m sorry you had to go so soon. Whose idea was it to apply for the race?

Lauren: In a way, it was my idea. I had originally applied to be a contestant on Survivor, and through the interview process they learned about my relationship with my dad – the estrangement for so long (about five years) and the fact that we had recently begun talking more (December 2005). Casting from Survivor approached me wondering if we’d be interested in applying for The Amazing Race. I knew that without a doubt my dad would be interested! He has the same adventurous spirit as I do and it was an opportunity of a lifetime for my dad and me to work on strengthening our relationship!

RNO: How did you prepare yourselves?

Lauren: It is difficult to prepare for a competition like this, but my dad and I talked a lot about being prepared mentally, getting ready for the unexpected and trying to focus on each other as teammates and not get bothered by the other teams. Physically, I stay active. I work out daily and enjoy hiking and rock climbing.

RNO: What was the most difficult part of the race for you?

Lauren: Quite honestly, the most difficult part of the race would have to be making the birdcage then getting eliminated. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that it wasn’t good that we got lost and separated from the other teams in the Vietnamese village. When we stumbled upon the square where the birdcage was, I tried to stay focused and determined to finish the task in front of us rather than spending more time looking for the coal bricks. We completed the task, but, well, you know the rest. Yes, the birdcage was the most difficult part for me.

RNO: What team did you think was going to be the toughest to beat?

Lauren: I thought that Peter & Sarah and James & Tyler were the two teams that were going to be tough to beat. They are both strong teams.

RNO: Did you connect with any of the other teams?

Lauren: I feel like I had a connection with each of the other teams, specifically on the long train ride to Mongolia. We bonded closely with Peter and Sarah. I also loved the cheerleaders and T&T!

RNO: How long did it take to put the birdcage together?

Lauren: Quite honestly, I have no idea how long that task took! Our adrenaline was pumping so much and we were so focused on completing the task that I really did not have the concept of time at the forefront of my brain. We were both so hot and dehydrated! I’d like to think that we completed it in record time!

RNO: What did you learn the most about yourselves on the race?

Lauren: I learned a lot about myself on this race. I learned patience and I have a greater appreciation for the unknown in the world. When I stay focused, I know I can complete anything! I also learned to listen to myself. I am going to continue to live life to the fullest, follow my dreams, and I know that anything is possible, especially the things that seem impossible!

RNO: What about each other?

Lauren: I learned to appreciate my dad as a person! He is wonderful – adventurous, understanding, compassionate, determined, patient, and he is so funny! He was the best teammate that I could have ever asked for.

RNO: How has your relationship changed since the race?

Lauren: My relationship with my dad is the strongest that it has ever been! We went from barely speaking to now talking daily! Our biggest hurdle has been crossed and I’m glad that we were able to put our differences behind us. We may not have won the million-dollar prize, but I feel like a strong relationship with my dad is priceless! I can’t wait to continue to get to know my dad as a person and watch our relationship continue to grow!

RNO: Is there anything else you want to say to people?

Lauren: I want to thank my family, friends, New England, and all of the others that supported us on this adventure. I know that we had a pretty strong fan base here and it was great to have the support of so many! I’d also like to wish the other teams luck because in this game a lot depends on the luck of the draw! This was the most incredible experience of my life!

RNO: Thanks, and I hope you had a good time on the race! I think you were a lot of people’s favorite team.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Amazing Race 9 articles:

Jenn Brasler is an Assistant Editor of Reality News Online and an aspiring writer from Falls Church, Virginia. By day she works for a court reporting firm, and by night she’s a spy for a covert branch of the CIA. You can e-mail her at luckyjenn@hotmail.com. She wants these two in an all-star season of the show.

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