Morristown Exes Take on ‘Amazing Race,’ Each Other

While it might not be the Hunger Games, a pair of Morristown residents will be competing as one of 11 teams that will embark on a sprint around the globe for $1 million dollars on the new season of The Amazing Race, premiering 8 p.m. Sun., Sept. 29 on the CBS.

The hook?

32-year-old sports marketer Timothy Sweeney and 29-year-old fitness trainer Marie Mazzocchi used to be a couple. And as far as teammates go, the pairing might not be ideal.

“Neither one of us actually listens to one another,” Mazzocchi said. “We both just yell at the same time trying to be right and walk away…nothing ever gets resolved.”

Not exactly the recipe for a smooth partnership.

“Many times she loses perspective, forgets the big picture and becomes obsessed with being right, rather than solving the problem,” Sweeney said. “And she thinks being the loudest makes her right.”

In the Q&A on the CBS site, Sweeney said that wanted “to be able to communicate what’s best for each other as an ‘us.’ Sometimes we lose focus on what’s best, to simply be right individually.”

But communicating as an “us” doesn’t appear to be the former flames strong suit.

“When we aren’t dating everything is amazing, “ Sweeney said. “But as soon as we commit and decisions have to be made together, trouble.”

For her part, Mazzocchi said on the CBS site that while she was excited to see other places and cultures outside of the U.S., that was also a double-edged sword as being in an environment where she doesn’t speak the language was a concern. As is cleanliness.

“I’m a total germaphobe,” Mazzochi said.

And as far as obstacles go, Sweeney isn’t off the hook either.

“He always has to be right, even when he knows he’s wrong.,” Mazzochi said. “He justifies anything and creates an argument out of anything and everything.”

The Morristown pair’s competition includess former NFL teammates, married ER doctors, theater performers, childhood friends, baseball wives, cousins and more.

This season, which marks the 23rd race around the world for the series, teams will travel through four continents and nine countries, spanning more than 35,000 miles, they will paraglide high above the skies of Iquique, Chile, subject themselves to a plunge in Norway and buckle up for Formula One Racing in Abu Dhabi.