When sisters Mary Lenig and Peach Krebs, originally from Coal Township, agreed in 2002 to compete during the second season of the CBS reality program "The Amazing Race," they did so for the challenge and the thrill of seeing the world.
They never imagined it would become the cultural phenomenon that it has, and that they'd be a part if it.
"Team Sisters," as they called themselves, had a chance to reflect on the experience at a 10-year celebration of the show recently in South Beach, Miami.
"This was a party that they pulled out all the stops for," Lenig said. "I talked with an executive from Snapple, who sponsored the party, and they spent close to a million dollars on this event."
"Any food you wanted, any drink, was right there waiting for you," Krebs said.
The reunion brought together the casts of all 19 races, including the current cast that will be filming in the next few months - no doubt having gone through the same rigorous process to be part of the show's history.
"I remember private investigators coming to town and asking people questions about us to make sure we were who we said we were," Krebs said. "There are people who go through all that and aren't real."
That isn't a problem for "Team Sister," so they've been told.
"A lot of people who meet us have told us that we are just like they saw on the show," Lenig said.
After the race
While Lenig talked with old friends she made on the show, Krebs, who follows the show regularly, met several other racers, including the new "Team Sister" Kisha and Jen, who took home the $1 million prize in Season 18.
In addition to reuniting with show host Phil Keoghan, Krebs remembered another reunion at the event.
"I walked up to the executive producer, Bertram Van Munster, and asked him if he remembered me."
And he did, Krebs said, for all the wrong reasons.
"He looked at me and said 'Peach from Team Sister, second season,' and then went on in detail about how we made an unauthorized pit stop in Hong Kong when we stopped racing, costing him $77,000 in production fees."
Since the show's airing, several of the cast members, including Krebs and Lenig, have used their fame to help do charitable work, including a fellow racer from their season, Blake Mycoskie, who formed the philanthropic company TOMS Shoes that gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold.
Lenig has traveled the world, visiting orphanages and providing supplies.
"You see these kids just light up when they hear you were on television and then you tell them how honored we are that they allow us to join them. It makes it all worth while," Lenig said.
Krebs does her charitable work closer to home; she created The Amazing Coal Cracker Race for hometown folks to share a similar experience. In the past, proceeds from the race have benefitted community organizations, fireworks displays and ill children.
"When I think about the thousands of dollars that we have raised with the race, it makes me feel really good," she said.
Krebs is putting the finishing touch on the latest installment of her race, set for 9 a.m. Saturday, July 2, in downtown Shamokin. It benefit Citizens for a Better Community.
Team Sister session
Fans of the show and "Team Sister" will also have the opportunity to hear about the behind-the-scenes workings of the show and their experiences during a question-and-answer session at 7 p.m. Friday, July 1.
For those who missed Lenig and Krebs' time on the show, Amazon.com, the online media store, released the second season in a five-disc set in January.
"We have it, but haven't watched it yet," Lenig said. "We are going to get the family all together and relive it again."