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FHS Grads, Friends, Reunite At ‘Amazing (Franklin) Race’

A group of Franklin High School alumni and friends gathered Aug. 20 for a most unusual reunion.

Rather than the traditional affair held at a local restaurant, where graduates chat over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, these grads opted for a more … interactive … reunion.

Based on the realty television show “The Amazing Race,” the grads get together for 48 hours of gathering clues, going on adventures and performing mental and physical challenges.

There are eliminations throughout, and whichever team has the best compiled time in completing the challenges is crowned the winner and awarded trophies.

This go-round was the sixth year the grads and their friends have done this, said Hannah Batren – FHS Class of 2010 – who, with partner Ricky Trent, organized this year’s challenges.

The Amazing Franklin Race FHS Reunion

Posted by The Franklin Reporter & Advocate on Sunday, August 20, 2017

 

“This is a way for us to come back and see each other,” she said. “This year we have someone flying from California to come back. We take it very seriously.”

The tradition is the winners of one year’s competition plan the next year, which is why Batren and Trent were behind the 2017 version. The two started thinking about what they would do soon after they won in 2016, with planning really getting serious over the past couple of months.

“It’s a good way to reconnect,” Trent said. “Every year it’s gotten a little bit bigger and spread out to more people.”

Amazing Franklin Race, part 2

Posted by The Franklin Reporter & Advocate on Sunday, August 20, 2017

 

This year featured 12 teams of two people each, with most being FHS graduates. The race started in Edison on Aug. 19, and featured a trip into New York City before ending in Jersey City.

The Aug. 20 rounds started in Batren’s yard and house – with the festivities being opened by Mayor Phil Kramer – and then spread to Middlebush Park and other sites in the township before ending in Princeton.

“In the past we’ve done things like go to Asbury Park or Belmar for beach-themed challenges,” Trent said. “One year we went to Six Flags, we’ve done a lot in the Princeton area because they have a bunch of parks and the university lends itself to a lot of challenges. Each year, we’ve explored a different piece of the state or the area.”

Next year’s race may also include a little community service.

Kramer suggested to Batren that whoever plans next year’s event contact him to arrange some kind of civic action be worked into the challenges, such as picking up litter on a street.

2017 Amazing Franklin Race

 

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