The Winner’s Circle: Chris & Alex – The Boston Buddies Who Took it All on the second Amazing Race

(If you don’t know what “The Winner’s Circle” is, be sure to read our introduction to this feature of the Reality TV Hall of Fame.)

Unlike the first season, the second Amazing Race didn't give us many teams that we will remember for years to come. Sure, there were Danny & Oswald, who got stressed so they went shopping; and Blake & Paige, the brother/sister team that had smiles brighter then 100 watt light bulbs (yes, Paige is still in my top three hottest racers ever); and the Gutsy Grannies, Peggy & Claire, who didn't really hold up to their name because they were scared to do everything. Tara & Wil were the separated couple who constantly fought, and finally, the Boston Boys, Chris & Alex. These best friends since kindergarten took the whole thing not just because they worked well together, but because of the many mistakes all the other teams made. Let's take a look at how and why they won.

During the first season, Rob & Brennan used their Fast Forward option in the first episode. Chris & Alex were much smarter than that. They waited until they were in trouble to go for it in order to save themselves from elimination. That's the one thing about them that I really remember – Chris & Alex were good with decision-making, and always seemed to make the right choices when under pressure. In fact, when many other teams screwed up during a Roadblock near the end of the race, including Blake and Wil, it set them hours behind the current leaders, which happened to be our Boston buddies.

The one thing that really seemed to help Chris & Alex win the race was the team dynamics of the other teams. Most teams seemed to have one slow racer and one fast racer. Some examples of this include mother/daughter team Dierdre & Hillary, sister team Mary & Peach, married couple Hope & Norm, and the usually slow teams like the Gutsy Grannies and Danny & Oswald, even though they were sentimental favorites. The issues and mental stress that the other teams in the race were incurring seemed to work in favor of Alex & Chris, who worked well together and never really seemed to succumb to the stress that the other teams were letting get to them.

Indeed, being physically fit seemed to work in favor for this team as well. There only seemed to be four teams on which both members were physically fit, and they included twins Shola & Doyin, separated couple Tara & Wil, brother/sister team Blake & Paige, and Chris & Alex. Since the twins were eliminated early, and were probably Chris and Alex's biggest physical threat, it was easy for them to step up as the alpha-male team. They took off and never looked back, although there were several times when they just made the cut, like when they made the final three by only minutes in beating Danny & Oswald to the pit stop. Chris & Alex did a great job when it came to Detours and Roadblocks, and never really seemed to struggle in this area.

Over the course of the second season of The Amazing Race, I didn't feel like I was connecting with any of the teams. It lacked something the first race had, and that was memorable characters. That being said though, I'll never forget Chris & Alex, and the teamwork they had to win the race. While other teams bickered, they laughed and held strong. They showed that if a team knows how to keep calm and plan ahead, everything will fall into place – like it did for them.

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