Racers are more ‘AMAZING’ than the race itself
The most fascinating aspect of The Salvation Army’s MOST Amazing Race, presented by BEST WESTERN PLUS Capitol Ridge, isn’t the wacky mental and physical challenges. Rather, it’s the racers themselves.
This year’s MOST Amazing Race, to be held Sept. 24 at Como Picnic Pavilion in St. Paul, will include up to 100 teams of two whose reasons for racing are as diverse as their backgrounds.
Take, for example, Kristin Burns and Renee Heimkes (both pictured) of team “Widows With Hope.” The courageous women are racing in honor of their husbands, who passed away.
Then there’s David Fenske, a father of three girls. In 2014 and 2015 he raced with each of his two oldest daughters, and this year he plans to race with the youngest. “There aren’t words to describe the bond we developed” racing together, Fenske said.
Here are more inspiring examples:
Amanda Brinkman: Work hard, play hard
Amanda Brinkman is one of Minnesota’s most successful young businesswomen. The executive at Deluxe is currently working with celebrity entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor Robert Herjavec on a national campaign to promote and empower small businesses (see them together in this video).
Brinkman (pictured, wearing viser) has competed in The MOST Amazing Race for three of the past four years.
“I am a huge fan of the TV show and love the idea of racing around Minneapolis and St. Paul in the same fashion,” said Brinkman, a former Twin Cities Salvation Army advisory board member.
This year she’ll be racing with her sister, Rebecca Field, who Brinkman calls “the ultimate race partner – fast, smart, and fun to compete with.” They previously raced together in 2012 and 2013.
Their most memorable moment?
“A charades challenge,” Brinkman recalled, citing a moment in which her sister attempted to convey the act of diving off a toilet wearing cowboy boots. “I shouted out the right answer. We are of the same mind and are killer at knowing exactly what the other is trying to gesture.”
Brinkman is proud to support The Salvation Army.
“I am a big fan of the work The Salvation Army does to help support people in living better lives,” she said.
Jeremy Gavin: Fringe benefits
Business owner Jeremy Gavin loves the MOST Amazing Race so much, he’s recruiting his own workers to join the fun.
Gavin (pictured with wife), owner of online design company Treefort, has offered to pay the $250 fundraising minimum for any of his employees who want to compete in this year’s Silver Division race. So far, his offer has yielded five teams.
“No one from all five teams has participated before – it’s brand-new to all of them,” said Gavin, who previously raced with his wife, Kelly, in 2009 and 2014.
He’s proud to support the race not only because it’s a blast, but because he knows his donation will allow the Twin Cities Salvation Army to provide food and housing to people in need.
“We’ve seen the good The Salvation Army has done,” said Gavin, whose 2014 race fundraising efforts with his wife topped $2,000. “We as a company are inspired by how The Salvation Army combines creativity and hard work to create something so amazing as this race and uses it to help those in need.”
The Steinbachs: Inseparable couple
Whether at work or at play, married couple Darik and Tara Steinbach (both pictured) are inseparable. When they’re not busy selling houses, they often compete in Crossfit events and run marathons.
Come this September, they will also compete in this year’s MOST Amazing Race. They’ve raced together the past four years, under the team name “Better Than You Think.”
Tara loves the race for its unpredictability.
“It’s so fun to compete in a race where you don’t know what to expect until you get to the challenge,” she said. “You can’t prepare – no one knows if it will be a physical, mental, or eating challenge.”
Darik also enjoys the race, but he could do without the eating challenges. Several years ago, there was an incident.
“That was the year Tara decided she was vegan,” he recalled. “So I had to eat and identify two-dozen buffalo wings and their corresponding sauces, then run afterward. It was nasty. I wasn’t able to keep them down.”
The race has given the couple a newfound appreciation of The Salvation Army.
“We didn’t know much about The Salvation Army prior to competing in the race,” Tara said. “It has really opened our eyes to how critical it is to the community.”
Register your team
Less than 60 days remain to register your team for the 2016 MOST Amazing Race, and space is already running low.
As of today (July 29), 26 teams are confirmed in the Gold division, and 22 teams are confirmed in the Silver division. Up to 40 teams can compete in Gold division, and 60 in Silver.
Racers in both divisions will do the same challenges and have the chance to win great prizes, but only Gold teams are eligible for the $5,000 grand prize.
For more information or to register, visit AmazingRaceMN.org.