The Boilover

I had a great weekend with my father, and if you follow along on the social networking side of things you know I was really pumped with how I did in the Downtown Dash.

That is, until my dad snapped this pic of me stretching after the race and I saw how much hair I’m losing….

About 5 hours from the time this post gets published a very special person in my life will descend upon Cincinnati. Someone whose opinion I value second to none, and who appreciates a good brew just as much as I do.

I’m speaking of course, about my father.

Still living in DC, my Dad and I don’t get to see each other enough, and the fact that I have owned a building here in Cincy for 4 months and he hasn’t seen it in person is absurd (not to mention he has a plethora of tools to bring out for me).

As excited as I am to have him out here checking out the building, we won’t be spending all weekend doing manual labor. Sure I’ll take him on a tour of the place and we’ll pick apart all the problems of the building and the busts in the plans I have so far…but this meeting of the minds will cover far more topics than homeownership and renovation.

Getting goofy with Greg Koch of Stone Brewing Co

Of the many passions in our lives that we share, beer is certainly close to the top of the list. The pictures you see are from the SAVOR event held annually by the Brewers Association in Washington DC. A higher end craft beer and food tasting, I made it to the first two in 2008 and 2009, and unfortunately had to pass this year to attend (and be a part of) a friends wedding.

Well fuck you too then

I’m excited to show off how far Cincinnati has come since the last time my Dad was here, both in its physical development, as well as its beer development (Moerlein IPA anyone?).

Adam Avery of Avery Brewing Co and former employer of my sister (who left because she is now a "glutard")

Who knows, we might even make it up to Listermann and grab some things to make a beer. It was the two of us who began our homebrewing careers together in the summer of 2006 while I was at Miami.

Hop Head

Most of all I’m just excited to have a weekend with him (and my sisters awesome little doggy who is coming along for the ride).

More photos from Savor:

RastafaRye

Raw Bar...cool, but not really my thing

Oh yeah, and we took the Metro to and from the event…..would certainly be nice if we had alternative transportation options here in Cincinnati….

I have an actual piece of writing I was working on for today, but it’s not ready, so instead I bring you some plants growing next to floros in the Washington DC subway system. That’s real greenery in the city.

As I sat down to write today’s post it struck me, I’ve been actively posting to this site for over a year now! I checked out what I posted on August 4th 2009, and wouldn’t you know it, it was a plug for the Downtown Dash (which is once again coming up this Friday). I didn’t get to run last year for some reason or another, and this year I hope to, although other than Monday night soccer I haven’t been running that much. Still, it’s only a 5k, and between soccer and biking I can probably muddle through it.

I really miss running. It feels like I never got back into it after I hurt my knee running the mason mini marathon last November. From January of last year up until I had my appendix removed at the end of August, I was kicking ass and taking names. I lost close to 30 lbs (most of which has stayed off). But more than anything, I just felt good.

So to those running the race this Friday, HAVE FUN! I hope to join you for every awesome step of that 3.1 mile route around downtown (the fact it’s not a morning race is great too).

Looking back on 2009:

Pre-race shot: Go OTR 5k

Stretching before the downtown Tri

Crossing the Tri finish line....the closest I've coming to throwing up at the end of a race

Mid-race at the Reggae Run

Run Like Hell...as Michael Phelps

I hope the Downtown Dash can be my triumphant return to road racing for 2010!