"I Forgot a Little Bit to Have Fun": Bernie and Carrigain on Their Amazing Race Journey

The Amazing Race Journey is not just about speed; it’s about teamwork, adaptability, and resilience.

Bernie Gutierrez and Carrigain Scadden learned that lesson firsthand in The Amazing Race Season 37. The duo, who bonded over dragon boat racing, expected their synchronization on the water to translate seamlessly to the race.

However, as Bernie put it while speaking with Parade for an exclusive interview,

"I forgot a little bit to have fun. How can I have fun? I'm competing. I am lost, I'm confused. I may be hungry, a little tired, I don't know."

From the beginning, the pair struggled to get on the same page. Their Amazing Race Journey was marked by communication breakdowns, disagreements, and moments of frustration. Despite this, they managed to stay in the race until Indonesia, where a combination of bad luck, a penalty from another team, and navigational errors ultimately led to their elimination.

Now, out of the competition, they reflect on their Amazing Race Journey, what went wrong, and what they learned about each other along the way.

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From Fans to Competitors

Bernie had been interested in competing for years, initially applying with a football teammate. However, she quickly realized that the show favors teams with strong relationships rather than acquaintances. Enter Carrigain, the one person Bernie felt could "handle" her high-energy personality.

"She’s the most patient with me and understands me the most."

Their audition process was as chaotic as their race. They filmed hours of footage in Puerto Rico, only to struggle with editing and never submit the tape. But fate intervened. Bernie received a call from the show, and when asked about a partner, she immediately thought of Carrigain.

"After a couple of interviews, and then we were at the starting line with Phil. And I was like, "Wait, hold on, what's happening?" Carrigain recalled.

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Lost in the Race—Literally

Even after surviving the "Driver’s Seat" penalty, another challenge awaited them: navigation. They struggled to find the detour location, costing them valuable time.

"The first mistake, like she said, we did was I got in charge of the directions, but I'm not supposed to be. I read the map wrong, alright? It was down, but not up down. If we turn around, it's right there, down."

Bernie admitted.

Carrigain, already exhausted from carrying the extra weight in the heat, grew increasingly frustrated.

"There's no signs. There's not The Amazing Race marker." The red and yellow, when you're watching it, as a fan, or in the show, you're looking for these red and yellow markers. And there's no markers. So now I feel like we're in no man's land."

Their misstep placed them at the back of the pack. Despite their best efforts, the lost time was too much to recover, leading to their elimination.

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Communication Breakdown on the Amazing Race Journey

While their bond was strong, their communication style was not always compatible. Bernie’s dominant decision-making often clashed with Carrigain’s desire to have her voice heard.

"I’m stubborn. A lot of it is my way or the highway, and something that she kind of knows." Bernie admitted.

This dynamic became apparent during an early argument at the airport. Carrigain expressed frustration that Bernie would shoot down her ideas, only to later adopt them.

"You know, like we had some strategies that I feel like didn't work out for us in the end. Not that they were bad strategies, but it's just like we we should have revised them." Carrigain said.

The tension wasn’t new for them—friends and family expected some fiery exchanges. But under the pressure of the Amazing Race Journey, small disagreements quickly escalated. The weight of representing their loved ones made it feel even more critical to get everything right.

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What they Learned from their Amazing Race Journey

Despite the challenges, both racers walked away from Amazing Race Journey with valuable lessons. Carrigain noted that Bernie is still learning how to balance her competitive fire with patience,

"I think she's trying really hard to find balance between her intuition and that fire, what most people would call ego."

For Bernie, the race taught her the importance of emotional support in a team setting.

"As competitive as I am, I know emotionally, I wasn't the best teammate. And that's big in this game as well. It's not just being able to complete tasks. Emotionally, I need to be there for my partner and reminding her that she is this shit."

Ultimately, the experience brought them closer. Bernie said,

"I'm just ready to get my comeback or my second chances or my all-stars! Because, look, I have a whole book written of how I'm going to be better."