Hulaman Bio
3rd person story
This triathlon story is about someone who overcame the bondage of addiction and now enjoys every minute of his freedom. It’s a story of hope and inspiration. Chris "hulaman" Davis was once a slave to cigarettes, drugs and alcohol and is now living proof that if he can complete the Hawaii Ironman, you can acheive your wildest dreams.
Chris became a costumed runner in 1985 when he ran his second Examiner Bay to Breakers 12K road race covered in real flower leis. The next year, donned in hula-skirt and home-made carnation leis, Hulaman made his debut. He has returned in an assortment of colorful outfits every year since, but the hula-skirt and leis remain his trademark guise. A costume contest prize winner in over a dozen races, he takes being a comedic costume runner very seriously. Once he carried a 35 pound replica of a London phone booth 12 kilometers while dressed as the "Phantom of the Operator." Another attention grabber was his full size Port-o-Potty. Hulaman strives for new challenges all the time so his oversized costumes keep getting wilder and crazier.
In 1992, unrelenting despair made it necessary for him to give up drugs and alcohol for good. He turned to exercise to help him stay sober. One day on a training run, a twisted ankle ended his marathon plans. He decided to train for a triathlon and replaced his running with swimming and biking to keep his fitness while his ankle healed. His first triathlon goal was the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Thinking everyone would be doing it without a wetsuit, he swam without one 3 days a week in the 53-56 degree water of SF Bay. When Hulaman dreams, he dreams in challenges. Thinking about crossing the finish line that day stills gives him goose bumps. He has since completed the Vineman, Wildflower, Mike & Robs, Mount Sunapee Endurance and Hawaii Ironman Triathlons.
Chris bought a computer in 1994 to make himself more employable and break out of his 12 year stint as a cabdriver in San Francisco. He immediately found the newsgroup rec.sport.triathlon and became a regular contributor. He loved computers so much, before long he was making his own web-site and Hulaman’s Simple Tri-Tips for beginning triathletes was born. He still maintains the site at www.hulaman.com.
Chris’s realization that he might actually be able to train for and complete an Ironman distance triathlon didn’t come as a flash, but slowly evolved over a couple of years. He was able to secure a lottery spot for the Ironman on his second attempt. His undying faith in a Higher Power that helped him overcome his addictions still help him in the grueling moments of training and racing. He finds during long runs and rides something within himself that can’t be found any other way.
Chris wants to remind people that competing can be fun and to not take it too seriously, so he shows up at most races in garb that elicits double-takes. Being fit, being outside, companionship of others with the same interest, relying on a power greater than yourself; these are gifts that he never wants to take for granted. He strives to be an adventurer and do extraordinary things. For him, the Ironman seemed so unrealistic and crazy that only a superman would even think about it, but he finished with a smile on his face. His one requirement for training and competing; if it’s not fun most of the time, it’s not worth doing.
On the third Sunday of each May, Hulaman can be found in outrageous attire at the intersection of Spear and Howard in San Franciso two hours before the start of the Bay to Breakers race. He designs and builds his costumes for the race when he gets off work as a Technical Support Manager in Tucson. As for the Ironman, he hopes to always be a triathlete and wants to do all the different Ironman courses. He continues to compete at local events both in the triathlon and running. His newest goal is to complete an ultra-marathon and he aspires to do the Western States 100 miler. Will he do it in a hula-skirt? He wants to try! We are betting he will.
