The End of the Race as we Know It

If you're keeping track at home (ha), you might recall that when I got serious (again) about time on my elliptical each day, I decided to start The Amazing Race from season 1 as my "this makes the whole exercise thing less terrible all around" distraction technique.

Last week, I finished the final episode of the most recent season.

It's not much of an accomplishment, but it's still an accomplishment of some sort, I suppose.

I have to say, 33 seasons in, it's still a very solid show, and I was pleased with how they copied with the covid insanity stop and re-start. Honestly, I like the self-drive because to me, it shows a lot about the skill and quality of the pair. Anyone can luck into an amazing taxi (and how many people have lost the final prize because of a bad one? Too many to count.) But being able to drive a stick shift, navigate, ask for directions and actually pay attention and follow same, etc. are all life skills. Plus they reveal a lot about the two people and how they work together.

Of course, that left me pondering what I'd use for distraction now that that's over. I contemplated Survivor, but I just feel like it's a little too drama-queen? It's (at least as far as I understand it, which is little) seemingly more about scheming and alliances and less about what you're capable of. Maybe that's wrong? I'm not sure I care enough to find out.

For now, I've settled on Tough As Nails -- another show by the TAR host, Phil. I'm half way through the first ep of season one today and so far think it looks fun. We shall see. 

Of course there are only 3 seasons, so what after that? Not sure. Might look into The Challenge (I believe is what it's called) as I think I recall someone saying it was like TAR on steroids. That could also be all in my head. But for now I have something and we'll see how it goes.

But I'm going to miss seeing exotic locales while I wait for the next Amazing Race season to hit streaming.

I suppose I could start the whole shooting match over again. But...I dunno. Rewatching the seasons we'd initially watched was fun and not terrible because so much time had elapsed (I think we watched in the 2010 timeframe.) Going back when I "just" watched it? Not sure.