The plan was to run a 15k in Mason last November, and then back down to the 10k for Thanksgiving. Instead I hurt myself during the 15k (after really, overuse thing) and have been healing since. Easing back into it right now is a delicate balance of cardio and strength training. I’m barely starting to run any worthwhile distance. Consequently, there is no way I’m gonna be ready for the Pig. I think the half marathon would still be a stretch, and these next few weeks are going to be critical in establishing a base of miles to train off of.

There is a part of me that thinks I should take this summer and focus on shorter races. I have a lot of fun at 5k races–they’re short enough where you can really push yourself the whole time and feel absolutely exhausted after only 20-25 minutes (20 being my goal for this coming race season) but still recover fast and not be shell shocked by a long race.

So The Pig is out. But I’m gonna leave it up there in support of the many people who are running. One day I will make it happen.

As for the Bolder Boulder….my sister used to live in Boulder, CO–she ran it last year, and I was going to come out and run it with her this year. Well, she moved, so I’m not sure if I’m still going to fly out for a road race. If I were going to fly anywhere for a race, this would be the place and the event, and that’s the only reason it’s still under consideration. I could end up waiting until the third week in May, and if I feel up for it and the last minute airline deal stars have aligned I’ll pull the trigger.

But Boulder is most likely out. It’s a badass race, I’m leaving it up there.

I don’t know when I’m going to sign up for my first 5k of 2010. I hope I’m racing by April, but it’s only Feb 1 and I’m still only jogging 2 miles. I’m always guilty of coming back to fast from injury, but if I get healthy now I’ll have an entire summer of outdoor activity ahead of me. My goals are 5 5ks, 1 10k, and 1 sprint triathlon. Still, I would love to have The Pig on that list, and accepting the fact that it’s not gonna happen this season is giving me a case of the Monday’s.

None of that changes the fact that I really despise early morning race times. I’m an afternoon, after work runner. That means I have a little breakfast, a nice big lunch, and then once that has digested and gotten me through the work day, I run or bike or go ahead with whatever physical activity I have planned for the day. All that is great, except when it comes to race day. All of a sudden I have to work off an unfamiliar schedule. Even for a 9 AM race, (depending on how far I have to travel) I still have to get up around 6-7 to make and eat a decent breakfast and let it digest a bit before tackling the course. And 9 AM race times are not the norm. There are so many 7-8 AM races that I pass up because I just don’t want to get up that early.

Stretching at 7am Before the Downtown Tri

I understand that many times the races have to be held early in the morning. If police are going to block off major roads, they would prefer to do that early in the morning on a Sunday, when traffic is lightest and the non-racing public is least inconvenienced. Most races being in the summer, people also want to run or bike during the cool morning hours before it gets torturously hot out. I get that, and for some events I’m more forgiving than others. When I did my first triathlon (7:30 am start) my adrenaline was pumping so hard I couldn’t sleep past 5:30 anyway. That being such a long, multi-sport event taking place downtown, it made sense to start that early. But a 5k run? There is no need for that short of a run to be held at 8 AM unless you want a legitimate shot at going back to bed afterwords. They do it right at the Reggae Run and Run Like Hell, evening races with a sweet parties afterwords. Even the GO OTR 5k, which is a midsummer event, starts at 10 AM (although this year it did get pretty hot).

Maybe later in life when I have to get up and run before work I will find the early morning races acceptable. I’m sure if you’re a morning runner the afternoon race times bug you. Luckily you have plenty of morning races to choose from. Meanwhile I’ll keep attending later races with sweet parties.

Photo Credit: Karen Stancik

Being a nice, slow, 6 mile cruise that finishes with beer, the Tweed Ride is a perfect precursor to Sunday’s Mini-Marathon (it’s a 15k, not even a half marathon) which starts and finishes at the Mason High School. Like most races, it benefits a charity (in this case the Epilepsy Foundation), and the course looks pretty flat, so it should be a nice easy cruise (that is, if you can ever consider moving 9.3 miles with your feet easy). Unlike the last two races I’ve run, there won’t be any costumes (although it would be hilarious if someone showed up as a strobe light), and it will be nice to get back into the groove of regular racing without dragging my camera with me on the course.

More information can be found here.

And much love to The Smoke Store on Jefferson, the costume would have been nothing without your contribution =)

Waiting for the gun

My triumphant return to running events was the Reggae Run, and it was a great race/party to attend. I had been missing the feeling of me and a few thousand of my closest friends taking off at the sound of a pistol, slowly working our lungs to the point of heaving air in and out of our mouths. The run started off by winding our way downhill out of Ault Park until we hit Delta, where we climbed back up to Observatory and did the roller coaster that is the entry back into the park.

Haulin' ass and taking pix

A quick 3.1 miles without a single flat step. This is the type of race course that fits Cincy so well. It kept a smile on my face the whole time. Although I got a few odd looks for running with my camera. It was well worth it though, especially to capture the after party.

The after party was full of goofy hats-mine included

The way I describe the after party to people that haven’t been…a mini, all-you-can-eat version of taste of Cincinnati, including four drink tickets. What a way to end a race =)

Full bellies partying to the soothing jams of The Ark Band

Check the slideshow up top for the food pix.

I’m really excited for this race. I’ve just gotten back into running after taking a month to recover from appendicitis. I ran a few miles yesterday and felt pretty good, but this looks like a pretty hilly course. For me, this race will be about feeling good when I finish more than finishing with a fast time. And it’s a reggae run, so I’ll be taking a bit more of a relaxed attitude. Look for me, I’ll be the guy with the big Rasta top hat on!

I like seeing more events downtown, but I especially like events that spread out past Fountain Square. Don’t get me wrong, I love the square, and over the last few years the change there has been unreal. It is in use all the time, be it an organized event or people just taking advantage of nice public space. But downtown isn’t just Fountain Square, and getting people over to the St. Xavier area is a nice change. I’m sure the owners of the Blue Whisp and Silverglades wouldn’t mind.

Whether you come to race, play cornhole, or drink Christian Moerlein (or all of the above) this will be a good time.

I didn’t think much of it until the week of the race, when I combined some running and biking workouts to make sure I would be ready for Sunday’s event. Thursday was the race walkthrough to show us where the transition area would be, and exactly where we would be swimming. Even though I watched my sister prepare and participate in her triathlon, I was still nervous about this being my first, and I was glad to hear the course walkthrough.

Stretching while looking out over the upcoming swim course

For me, the event was about two things. One, it was a testament to my efforts to get in shape, which has paid off enough for me to at least attempt this sort of event. And two, it was a great way for me to help to support an event centered on Cincy’s Urban Core, and a way for me to embrace the downtown lifestyle. For example, Saturday, the day before the race when we picked up our race numbers etc., most people got in their cars and drove down to Sawyer Point to check in. Instead, I hopped on my bike and cruised down to the park in 10 minutes. Likewise, I was probably one of, if not the only person to ride their bike to and from the actual event. After the race I took a shower and walked up to Tucker’s for a post race feast (“Ghetto” Huevos are the best, try ‘em). It was a great day, and one that made me proud to be a downtown resident.

And I beat my goal of doing the whole thing in 1:20. So I’m doing something right.