Fiery Embers | Building the Ultimate Chicago Cubs Marathon Team

Описание: What happens when you mix baseball nostalgia, marathon brain, and just the right amount of chaos? You get one of the most joyfully ridiculous episodes of Fiery Embers we’ve ever recorded.

In this episode, I’m joined by Bobby Le, better known online as Goofy Nerd Runner, for a conversation that proves endurance sports don’t always have to be serious to be meaningful. Bobby and I take two lifelong passions of ours, baseball and running, and mash them together in the only logical way possible: by building the ultimate Chicago Cubs marathon team.

The premise is simple (and wildly unnecessary): if we had to assemble a starting nine of Cubs players, both past and present, based purely on who we think could survive, suffer through, and maybe even thrive in a marathon… who makes the cut?

From the very first pick, the debate gets spicy. Bobby comes out strong with Carlos Zambrano as his marathon ace because of pure grit, unpredictable energy, and absolutely no fear of the pain cave. I counter with Greg Maddux, a master tactician who would study the course, pace himself perfectly, and quietly destroy the field without anyone noticing until mile 24.

From there, things only get better.

We fill out the roster with iconic Cubs energy: Jody Davis grinding it out behind the plate, Derek Lee steady and dependable at first, Ryne Sandberg doing everything right at second, and Javier Báez absolutely smashing the wall at shortstop with reckless enthusiasm. Ron Santo holds it down at third, while the outfield brings power, range, and personality with Andre Dawson, Doug Dascenzo, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. And because rules are meant to be bent on Fiery Embers, Ernie Banks becomes our honorary captain because if anyone’s running two marathons, it’s him.

But this episode isn’t just baseball nerd talk.

Bobby shares his experience running the Chicago Marathon during a brutal 2021 heat warning, his deep love for the city, and how humor has become his way of connecting with runners who don’t take themselves too seriously. We talk about running with public figures through Chicago, the absurdity of running culture, and why laughing through the hard miles sometimes matters more than shaving seconds off a split.

We also dive into Bobby’s journey as a creator and how Goofy Nerd Runner grew into a platform that celebrates the weird, wonderful, and very human side of endurance sports. As he looks ahead to a spring 2026 50K, we talk about rediscovering speed, strength, and joy after years of grinding out 100-milers.

This episode is a reminder of what Fiery Embers is all about: lighthearted conversations, genuine connection, and finding reasons to smile even when training gets hard.

🎙️ If you love baseball, running, or creative chaos, then press play.

Drop a comment and tell us: Which players from your favorite team would crush a marathon?