Running, on the other hand, has been an on and off part of my life ever since I started playing sports as a little kid. However it wasn’t until the end of high school that I realized I could run for for the sake of running–by myself–and enjoy it.

Recently I found myself comparing the two activities and their similarities. You’re asking yourself right now “How could running around outside and sitting in a chair getting a tattoo be similar?” For starters, they are things that people are–for the most part–either into or they’re not, with little to no gray area. There are other similarities as well.

Tri Swim Bike Run

1. Both involve a certain amount of pain that one must, on some level, find enjoyable.
With tattoos it’s obvious, that’s not a massaging needle they use to put ink in your skin. With running, I’m not talking about the pain from an injury (that’s just bad). It’s the pain you feel right before the runners high takes over and you stop thinking about moving your legs and just let them rhythmically churn. It’s gritting out the last half mile of a race, and kicking your pace up even though your muscles are about to issue a cease and desist order.

And when you’re done with a tattoo or a race, there is a great sense of accomplishment and relief. Which leads me to my next point.

2. Both are meaningful experiences that stay with you for life.
You’re never going to forget the experience of sitting/laying in the chair at the tattoo parlor getting a tattoo. And if you do somehow forget it, the tattoo will be there always to remind you.

Now I’m not saying I remember every run I’ve been on. But I remember all of the races. I remember the important runs where ‘something clicked’ or I was able to work through an important issue in my life. I look through the collection of routes I have and I think about the places I have seen and things I have discovered while running–it’s all a big part of who I am today. I once read an article about how to motivate yourself to run on vacation. I laughed–to me running on vacation is almost a necessity. Not only do I want the exercise, I want to see my surroundings and find new paths that I would otherwise leave unexplored.

I was recently in Maui with some friends, staying at a resort we had been to two years before. Last time I couldn’t run, so I was excited to explore more of the resort strip with my Nikes propelling me along the way. I ended up making my way farther north than I expected, and found myself looking back south over Black Rock and down the line of stately beachside residences. A glance up north showed a view of untouched beach that beckoned me to explore. And while I don’t remember every step of that run, I’ll never forget the feeling of rounding the corner to that lookout and marveling at where I was.

Editor’s Note: I realize this post drifts off at the end with no real conclusion. There is a follow up article in the works. But it kind of fits, because I drift off during good runs, and good tattoo sessions.

By running…as fast as you can…

Interval training involves running at near max speed and intensity, and then an interval of jogging. There are a number of track workouts (see Yasso 800′s) which are great, if you have access to a track. But living downtown, I don’t always feel like getting on my bike and riding up to UC to use their ring. So I’ve created a number of downtown interval workouts, one of which I’ll share right now.

I was trying to find a good place for interval training and I figured if I’m trying to workout out and get as strong and fast as I can, I should go where the pros go. So I went down to PBS and found a great spot at the SE corner of the stadium. You start at the bottom of the ramp on Mehring Way and sprint up the ramp to the stadium deck. Then continue next to (or better yet, jumping over) the concrete benches. When you hit the stairs that lead back down to the parking deck you’ve hit a 1/4 mile.

At that point you turn around and jog back to the bottom, where you do it all again. Repeat ten+ times, then go for a cool down jog, stretch, and take the next day off. Do this a few times a month and watch the results.

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 =)

Then, when you’ve had your fill there, head down to OTR for the second night of Neon’s reopening. Last night was a blast, and tonight will be even better, plus there will be a a No on Nine theme. Because I’m sure everyone who will show up down there is still uninformed on what Issue 9 is…..

Do some pull-ups (let the GIF load for a demo)....

....and run the skinny's....

....and jump over some shit!

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!

With 26 flights of 59 stairs a piece, running up and down the aisles is almost masochistic. Which is why I smiled when I pulled up on my bike and looked out to see a handful of people dispersed amongst the rows, all concentrating on not missing a step. It’s an interesting crowd of mostly college age athletes, with a few gray hairs mixed in. And while one person may be sprinting up and down a set of stairs to work on speed, there are others like me who are there to work on their endurance. I like that mix, and even as we pass by each other, there is an acknowledgement of the work that is taking place.

As for the workout itself, I like to run all the stairs, then do some sprints around the football field. After a break, another set around the stairs and I’m ready to call it a day. Without hitting the top section of the stadium, and depending on whether you run the short rows in the lower part as well, you end up hitting about 3100+ steps over about a mile (according to google earth mind you). It’s the sort of thing that turns your legs to jello, but when they re-solidify you are that much stronger for it.

And riding back down the Vine St. hill on my bike is always fun!

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.

If you’re a runner, why not consider this nice 5 mile route that will take you from downtown to Mt. Adams, over to Newport and Covington, down past the stadiums, and back up thru downtown to finish in OTR. Sounds like fun eh? It’s certainly more fun than running around the streets of your subdivision looking at the same houses…..

If you’re interested I’ll be doing this route this afternoon. A little warm up run will take me from my house to the top of the pedestrian bridge that spans I-71 (connects Van Meter St. in Mt. Adams and Court Street by the Greyhound Station, and is the banner image of the site). I’ll be leaving the top of the bridge (Van Meter and Warhem) at 6:30 pm. Drop me a line in the comments or meet there a little before 6:30 if you want to join me.

Be warned I use stairs, benches, and other manmade obstacles to make this more than a normal run

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.