“What I do is I just try to take my hat and I turn it around, and it’s like a switch that goes on. And when the switch goes on, I feel like another person. I feel, I don’t know. I feel like a… like a truck. Like a machine.” – Lincoln Hawk (From Over The Top)

This doesn’t happen nearly as often anymore, but I always laugh when someone asks if my signature “hat turn” or “transformation into Atlas” was inspired by Ash Ketchum, the main character of the Pokémon anime. Ash turns his hat before Pokémon battles. I did watch a few episodes during my youth, and I played Pokémon on Gameboy a few times, but my pre-challenge ritual wasn’t inspired by Ash Ketchum. When I say “pre-challenge ritual,” I’m referring to everything I do directly before I begin eating, including the deep breath I take, the prayer and Sign-of-the-Cross, the “hat turn,” the final few words, and lastly, the (also) signature, “1, 2, 3, BOOM!!”

People commonly ask why I eat on my knees (click here for the answer), how I got started (click here for the answer), where Leonidas came from (click here for the answer), why I drink carbonated diet soda during challenges (click here for the answer), and questions regarding the various components of my pre-challenge ritual. I do the same thing consistently before each challenge in every video, and it’s been like that for many years now. All of the various components started at different times, earlier in my career, and it’s my pre-challenge ritual that allows me to get “in the zone” before I start eating. For some people, it’s their favorite part of each video, & they would go crazy in the comments if there was one where I didn’t include any of it at all. Why does my pre-challenge ritual exist?

I get to restaurants about 1 hour before the challenge is set to start. The time listed on my schedule is around when the food will be brought out. First things first, I meet with the restaurant to decide where I’ll attempt the challenge – the best spot for the video and where everyone in-person can see me. Then I get the store all set up and ready for business. The rest of the time is spent meeting & greeting everyone in attendance – taking pictures, signing pictures, and more. I do that until the staff is ready for me to go back into the kitchen and film the food preparation. During that time, I cram as many details and pronunciations as I can into my memory about the food and restaurant. Basically, that hour is “go go go” and there is no time to prepare mentally for the challenge itself.

Once the food is ready, I typically go to the restroom if needed, knowing I won’t be able to during the challenge. I wash my hands & then get down on a knee (hopefully with nobody else around) – I take 6 deep breaths and say a little prayer for 4 things to happen:

1. That I do my best and give maximum effort, with no excuses, so I can sleep well that night, no matter the outcome, win or lose.
2. That I provide an entertaining viewing experience for people in attendance and those watching via Facebook Live when possible.
3. That I portray the food, drinks, and menu as positively as possible, to promote the restaurant and inspire viewers to dine there.
4. That I do a complete job while filming before, during, and after the challenge (mostly during all my talking and explanations), so my editors (“Magic” Mitch Dombrowski & Arthur Davis) will have everything they need to produce a great video for the channels.

After that, I look in the mirror and pump myself up like in my favorite scene from the movie Cool Runnings, and I head out to get the show started. I usually high-five a few people on my way to the table, and thank them for coming. I also spend a few minutes saying hi to everyone who arrived while I was in the kitchen filming. After getting all set up with the camcorder (and sometimes livestream) started, I proceed with the video intro that typically ends with, “Let’s get this challenge started!” I tend to confirm with the restaurant and audience that everything I said was 100% accurate. If something is forgotten, I add it during my pre-ritual before I begin eating.

I’ve been doing the same thing for so long that most regular viewers can repeat my pre-challenge ritual without hesitation. I start by taking a deep breath, followed by the Sign-of-the-Cross and saying another prayer. Then the hat turn occurs, or transformation into Atlas. I say a few words, usually thanking the restaurant owners for allowing me the opportunity to be there. If there are multiple components, I’ll say what I’m starting with first. I end by doing my signature “count-up” that goes, “1, 2, 3, BOOM!!” All that gets me focused and ready to dominate. The hat turn really is like a switch. Let’s quickly break down those aspects & explain their purpose.

Deep breath and prayer – Taking a deep breath is a great way to relax. Way more often than not, I have won before I begun. I did everything I needed to put myself into a position to win. Lots of people are there to meet me and watch me eat, which is really cool when you think about it. I remind myself that I worked really hard to get where I’m at, and let’s have fun. My family is Catholic and I went to Catholic grade school and high school too. We’ve always said Grace before all our family meals. Before eating, I do the Sign-of-the-Cross and pray that I have fun, do my best, and don’t choke (haha). Still 11 years later, I thankfully haven’t ever choked!! 😀

Hat Turn / Transformation – This has pretty much been covered already, but it comes from Over The Top and I’ve been doing it along with the deep breath and prayer since 2010. My father introduced the movie to me when I was little, and we watched it many times together. It’s still one of my favorite movies!! If you watch my 7th food challenge ever, filmed back in late 2010, you’ll see both the prayer and hat turn. There have been times where I’ve forgotten a hat, and borrowed one, just so I could repeat this step. Click here for an example. (Here is another.) Just like Sylvester Stallone’s character turns his hat before every single arm wrestling match, so do I before each food challenge. Once that hat turns, it’s “GO TIME” and all food sitting in front of me is going down. Before the challenge, my mind is going crazy thinking about 100 different things, trying to make sure I get all my responsibilities taken care of. Once that hat turn occurs though, I transform into Atlas, and then I’m laser focused on executing my strategy needed to dominate.

Note: There are videos where I don’t “transform” and turn my hat. I started this back in 2013 while “Magic” Mitch and I were in Oxford, England of the United Kingdom. If the meal won’t be free or even discounted if I win, I don’t worry about turning my hat since “Atlas doesn’t pay for food.” I still do some pay-to-pay challenges these days, but the restaurants always give me the meal free in exchange for the publicity and other restaurant & staff benefits that come along with me attempting a challenge there.

The few final words – If I forget to add a specific detail during the intro, or get told something minor I said was inaccurate, I’ll think about it and remain unfocused until it’s fixed. After the hat turn, I thank the restaurant owners and add any remaining details or corrections so my intended intro is completed. Then I can be confident the video intro will be excellent, and I can focus on eating.

1, 2, 3, BOOM!! – There isn’t really much to this. I do always laugh though when people proudly repeat my pre-ritual to me, but end with 3, 2, 1, Boom. I don’t really know why I count up rather than down, or what started it. I hate timers that count down, and always count up when lifting weights. Once I do the 1, 2, 3, Boom!! (with hand gestures), the pre-ritual is complete and I’m off to the races.

 Note: For the past few years, BOOM has actually been an acronym. It serves as the foundation of all my thoughts and actions, which guides my decision making. BOOM is engraved on the ring I wear on my right hand. Click here to find out what it means!!

This post went a lot further into detail than I originally intended, but there is a lot that goes along with everything I do. I wanted to expand further than I did when I wrote a similar article for FoodChallenges.com. Please click here to check it out!! People often tell me I need to loosen up and get more creative, but they might be the same people telling me I need to make note cards so I mess up fewer times after watching our blooper videos. If you have been curious, now you know what all goes on before I take my first bite.

Do you do anything repetitive that requires you to be focused? I have a pre-ritual before I play washers, bags (cornhole), darts, and other activities that require focus too. I don’t proceed until my pre-ritual is complete. Would a pre-ritual work for you? Give one a try, and really, there is a chance you have a few pre-rituals you do subconsciously without even thinking about it. Finally, if you haven’t ever watched the movie Over The Top, I promise you won’t be disappointed, unless of course you don’t like incredible movies!! 😂

If you’re interested and don’t already know the origin story of Atlas and Atlas & Zeus Promotions, click here to learn more!!

If you are interested in getting your own FC Flexfit cap like the one Randy wears, please click here to check out his store!!

To go back and check out other Randy’s Blog posts, please click here!!