Life isn't a spectator sport.

But sometimes it is.

Like when two guys decide to kayak and bike 163 miles from Portland to Hopkinton, Mass and then run a little Boston Marathon with all that extra energy.

That's the very, very simple gist of the EpicMan. We talked a bit about the premise a few weeks ago.

As much as some of us appreciate participation - and as much as we all like to join in, take part, experience weirdness first hand, this isn't one of those times.

During EpicMan, there's no "I wanna get in on that." Instead we less-motivated (and perhaps less insane) folks say, "Man, that's a shipload of crazy. But hey, I'll still hang out at the bar and watch."

So that's what we did at Ri Ra yesterday, as the two EpicMen Will Thomas and Seth Bradbury launched their 24-hour journey. The guys kayaked from Peaks Island to Portland - and were welcomed by a bar-full of supporters at their first pit stop.

[Cara Slifka photos]

While we waited, we gambled on their split time. I decided a solid hour (bringing them in at 4:00 pm) would allow for solid paddling with a few pauses to appreciate the fine weather and the not-so-awful view.

I underestimated the duo, as they arrived smiling and no worse for the wear at 3:52 pm.

Two good-guessing people won prizes that included Red Sox tickets and Urban Epic entries. Turns out one was a friend, the other was my landlord. Weird. Proceeds from the raffle also went to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southern Maine.

It wasn't long before Seth and Will bellied up to the bar to join in the best of gluttonous weekend activities: beering.

The gentlemen hung out for a while, posed for some photos and then readied for the bike ride south by swapping wet suits for really tight shorts.

We cheered them off onto the next leg of their journey (pit stop at the Portsmouth Brewery) and congratulated ourselves for being such supportive lushes.

As I write this at 9:51 am, the guys are without sleep and headed to the starting line of the Boston Marathon (the implication being that yes, they are still alive and functional).

Follow the updates on twitter/theepicman or The EpicMan blog.

See who wasn't ashamed to drink on a Sunday afternoon in support of EpicMan