Tattoo Tuesday: Naples resident tells us why he has a raven prominently featured on his leg

Note to readers: The News-Press and Naples Daily News are launching a special series today called "Tattoo Tuesday." We will feature a tattoo story every week − from the emotional to the humorous − asking those who are participating for the story behind their body art.

Have a tattoo story to share? Send you story by email to mbickel@gannett.com.

Naples' Michael Murawski: 'Why I have a raven tattoo'

Currently, I have 18 tattoos. Each one, more or less, has a story behind it or some special meaning. I'd like to share one of those stories.

On my right leg, I have a Raven tattoo. It is situated above my Ironman tattoo (the tattoo you traditionally get after you have completed an Ironman distance triathlon...but that's another story).

The Raven tattoo is an homage to a friend of mine and a Miami Beach legend, Robert "Raven" Kraft. Kraft, known as "Raven" decided on New Year's Day in 1975 to run 8 miles every day for one year, on the sand of Miami Beach. After that first year, he decided to keep on doing it...every day.....and has kept it up for 48 years.

More: Her tattoo, a birthday gift to herself, features the names of her grandchildren - all six

His story is fascinating. Seeking a career as a song writer and being a huge Johnny Cash fan, a young Robert Kraft traveled to Nashville hoping to pass one of his songs to Johnny Cash. After some time and having met the Man in Black, Johnny told him " Look son, I write my own songs." Johnny did pass on one of Robert's songs to another artist and after Robert returned to Miami Beach was surprised and shocked to hear "HIS SONG" on the radio!

With no money to hire a lawyer or really knowledge of what to do, Robert became angry. To deal with his anger he started running, and running, and running some more. Every day on the same stretch of beach from 5th street along Ocean Drive. Soon, others started to join Raven ( a nickname bestowed on him because of his long black hair and penchant for dressing all in black) on his daily runs.

If you ran with Raven the full 8 miles, he bestowed a nickname on you and kept a detailed list of all the people who ran with him and the number of times they did so. Raven has a head for baseball statistics and remembers not only everyone's nickname but their birthdays as well. Over the years, he became a legend not only in the local running community but people from all over the world came to Miami Beach to "Run with the Raven." (You can read his biography by Laura Lee Huttenbach.)

Raven has run every day, no matter what.

Through hurricanes and illness.

He was given special permission by the Mayor of Miami Beach to run on the beach during the pandemic when the beaches were closed. He has never been on an airplane. He has been featured on ESPN specials, has been in Runners World magazine and has never stopped writing songs. He currently is working with a band called Raven and the Dark Shadows (his CD's are available for purchase).

I went running with the Raven about 15 years ago and I have done only about a dozen runs with him. My nick name is " Third Time Charm" because my first two attempts to do the Raven run were thwarted by lack of parking and flooding on Ocean Drive. But Raven is a friend and a good guy....maybe a little crazy but hey, who isn't?

Last year, due to the stenosis in his back he had been running in incredible pain, taking nearly four hours to complete his daily run, so he cut back to only five miles a day. Raven is the embodiment of grit and determination. He does not give up and keeps putting one foot in front of the other no matter what.

I am a two time Ironman triathlete and I've run about a dozen marathons and about 25 half-marathons. Running and the Raven are a metaphor for life... keep moving forward, don't stop, don't give up.

This attitude has carried over into all aspects of my life.  So, as I have gotten older, I've slowed down just like the Raven has but my Raven tattoo inspires me to keep moving, keep going through any adversity you'll make it through.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What are some of the most popular tattoos people get