Upon entering the Texas Inn – a downtown Harrisonburg stable known for their chilidogs and burgers – on a wet Saturday afternoon, I was greeted by a mostly empty bar and two friendly employees. I took my seat at the end of the bar opposite a family enjoying their lunch, and got some water. Then I informed Jess, who was working behind the counter, that I would be attempting the Great Bowls of Fire challenge. She and Jessie, who was cooking, seemed pleased – I suppose that there are worse ways to spend half an hour of your shift than watching a college student attempt to eat more chili than any person should ever wish to consume.

For the uninitiated, the challenge involves eating 44 ounces of the Texas Inn’s iconic chili in one sitting. Topped with a pile of onions, relish, and hot sauce, and accompanied by eight sizable packets of oyster crackers, the chili quickly made its way to the bar. If I was able to finish it in under 30 minutes, the whole thing would be free, and I’d be sent on my way with a can of Febreeze and a trophy. If I were to fail, I’d be out $35.

Now, a little strategy: Before coming to the restaurant, I skipped two meals and ran eight miles in the hope that an empty stomach would help my effort. Also, I knew that after about 15 minutes of eating, my brain would catch up to my body and I’d start to feel full. It was imperative that I cram as much chili as possible into my body before that point. So, as soon as the timer started, I was off. The chili was hot temperature-wise, but not too hot for me to eat from the edges. I had been a bit concerned about the spice, but although it was noticeable, it wasn’t too bad. Despite the circumstances, the chili was very tasty.

The first 10 minutes were smooth sailing – shoveling chili in at a steady pace, I made it roughly halfway through the bowl, including eating down the chili far enough to fit all the crackers in, since the bowl would have overflowed if I tried to add them at the beginning. By minute 13, though, I was flagging. Although I didn’t want to admit it, I was starting to feel pretty full. I knew I had to continue, though. There was no way the Weather Vane would pay the whole $35 if I didn’t finish, and if there’s one thing I won’t do, it’s waste my money.

So, I persevered. At 15 minutes, I had to take a moment to stretch and take my first sip of water. By this point, I could see the finish line. At minute 20, I was down to a shallow layer of chili all along the bottom of the bowl, but I was also incredibly full. I had slowed down considerably, as every bite felt like it might be coming back out. However, with 10 minutes left to go, and only a small amount of chili uneaten, I knew I could make it.

Finally, at 27 minutes and 54 seconds, I took my last bite of chili. I’ll be totally honest – as I was posing for pictures with my trophy and empty bowl, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to make it off my stool and out of the restaurant without throwing up. But, taking it slow, I was able to exit the restaurant with whatever dignity I had left after eating 44 ounces of chili, with my trophy and Febreeze in tow. 

Now, some notes: Would I recommend attempting the challenge? Maybe, If you’re really willing to push yourself. If you do try it, make sure you go hungry, and don’t have any important meals planned in the next 24 hours. I wasn’t able to eat again until lunch the next day.

If you’re interested in watching the timelapse of my attempt, check out the Weather Vane’s Instagram.