Run Bike Run

Today’s post is all about my pal and neighbor, The Chili Man. Since he is kind of an honorary B-43 member, I’ll mention his adventures on here once in a while. He does have his own blog, but he hasn’t updated that thing in ages. Anyway, after building up a bike for him last year out of shit from my scrap heap, he’s taken quite a liking to cycling. I think his goal was to eventually compete in an XTERRA event, but he started off slow with the University City Duathlon last weekend. Lunchbox and I were there to show our support and also to volunteer, so we got to see all of the action.

Just before the race, he was getting all “limbered-up.”





Even local race promoter Neal Boyd was there. He was running the event and did a swell job.



After lengthy pre-race announcements, they were ready to go. Even though he was nervous, The Chili Man was still having a good time. He’s all about hamming it up for the camera.



We waited by the trail exit for the first run to be finished. It was a 5K run, so I figured I would see him in less than thirty minutes or so. The last leg of the run had them going up a tough hill, but that didn’t break The Chili Man’s spirit.



After a short transition, he grabbed his homemade bike and hit the road. There were a lot of serious roadies and triathlon types there, but The Chili Man was riding a mountain bike (with slick tires.) I didn’t have time to get him used to riding my road bike, or else he could have ridden it for the race. That didn’t matter though, because he was just as serious as the other participants.



It was about a twelve mile or so bike course, consisting of two loops. He’s been riding a lot, so I knew he would be okay out there. I saw lots of folks on “real” road bikes out there, and they looked like they would have a rough time on the course. The Chili Man however, would not. After what seemed like no time at all, he returned from the bike leg of the event.



The last run would be much shorter. I forgot the exact distance (and I’m too lazy to look it up), but I’m pretty sure it was less than two miles. Usually when you run after riding a bike for so long, your legs get all wonky. He said it kind of feels like that episode of Friends. I saw what he was talking about.



After waiting hardly any time at all, he returned. We had all gathered around the finish line to watch him come in and to cheer him on. He didn’t disappoint either, because he did a damn cartwheel as he crossed the line. I wasn’t expecting that, but I had the camera out anyway to catch the landing.


I would’ve busted my ass for sure.


When it was all said and done, he finished his first duathlon better than he thought he would. In fact he ended up in fourth place in his class. Not too bad for a rookie. He had fun, and definitely entertained everyone that was there (that is what he does best.) I’m proud of him, and I hope to see him enter a few more races. In fact, I’ve been trying to talk him into some mountain bike races, but we’ll see how that goes.


I have a really busy weekend coming up, so I will hopefully have lots to talk about when I come back next week. Why don’t you come back and see what happened? I’ll be here, and you should be too.

No More Race Report (For Now)

Now that I took three days to recap a six hour race, I’m done. It seemed like there was a lot to talk about, so spreading it out over a few days was the right thing to do. If it was too much for you, then you better hope that I don’t do any races longer than that in the future.


Speaking of the future, I’m racing again on Sunday. This time it’s another one in the Southern Classic Series. The Race To The River takes place in the Harbison State Forest down in Columbia, South Carolina. Just like most of the races in this series so far, I’ve never ridden down there. I hear it’s pretty flat too. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I‘m racing it regardless. It should be a lot of fun.


It’s not all about me this weekend though. My pal and neighbor, The Chili Man, is competing in his first duathlon. That’s right, his new found love for cycling has him attending the University City Duathlon right here in Charlotte. Lunchbox and I will be there to cheer him on, and also to heckle him if the mood strikes us. I’m excited to see him get out there and put his training to the test.

Last, but certainly not least, is an even that kicks off this weekend.



Yup, it’s time again for BIKE! Charlotte. Join our local mountain bike club, the Tarheel Trailblazers as we ride with the Mayor to show our support for cycling in Charlotte.


This event is for all types of cyclists, but since we are a mountain bike club we’re doing something different. We’ll be meeting at a local shop, Queen City Bicycles to ride to the meeting spot for the Mayor’s ride. We’ll be on mountain bikes for this 1.4 mile ride, so hopefully we’ll make a big impact when we roll up on the scene on our fat tires. We’ll be meeting at the shop at 7:00 a.m., so come on out and join us if you’re a local.


Since I’ll be busy tomorrow morning, this is it for blog posts for the week. Little Miss Sunshine is heading out for a weekend filled with mountain biking when she joins her women’s only club, the Dirt Divas for their spring trip. I’ll have to keep myself busy while she’s gone. Come back next week for another race report, the Mayor’s ride details, my weekend bachelor shenanigans, and maybe even something about the Chili Man’s duathlon adventure.