Big Sur here I come...

I've been absolutely horrible about keeping up with the blog over the last 2.5-3 months as I prepare for the Big Sur Half Marathon next weekend. I apologize sincerely. I've been training, but I haven't been good about tracking it online.

I got some new toys for my training, which you think would make it easier. I bought a Nike+ GPS Sportwatch to track my runs and log them online. Unfortunately I got a defective one that stopped connecting to my computer after about 4 runs. It works great on the runs and is really easy to use/read, but if it isn't connecting to my computer so I can log them and see the routes, it's not doing me much good. Nike is sending me a replacement, so hopefully that one will work a little longer. I also got a new Sony Walkman mp3 player. It took a couple of runs to adjust to, but I've started to really like it for longer runs.

On top of those I've been running in a new pair of shoes. I got them when I was home in NC over Labor Day. I went to a running shop with my sister and they watched us run and measured our feet. Then they recommended a set of shoes to choose from. I chose the Brooks Ghost 4. I went from a stability shoe to a neutral shoe and also went from a standard width to a wide. I have absolutely felt the difference.

In my training I've also been mixing in some sprinting/speed work/stairs. It seems to be paying dividends on my mid-distance runs. Hopefully it will make a difference on the 13.1 mile run in Big Sur on Sunday.

My goal is to finish under 1 hour and 55 minute, which is about a 8 minute 45 second per mile pace.

I'm driving up from San Diego on Saturday morning and staying in Monterey on Saturday night. The race is Sunday morning, and I'll also stay there Sunday night so I can enjoy Big Sur for a few hours and also not spend 8 hours in a car after running 13.1 miles.

The 20th was Ryan's due date so the date of the race has meaning. Three days after the race will be her first birthday.  I wish I was going to be celebrating these days differently, but I am looking forward to this race. She is always with me and that is never more evident than when I'm running outside, so running along the ocean and cliffs of Big Sur will be amazing.

I am also extremely motivated by my sister Whitney. I can't put in words how proud I am of her. One for her amazing run at the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, where she easily beat her expected finish. Running a half marathon is something we talked about doing on Thanksgiving Day last year (our first conversation after losing Ryan), and it's something she worked hard to do. I know it meant alot to be out there and to complete the goal.

I am also proud of how she, Rob and Natalie have dealt with all of this with more strength and grace than I can imagine possessing. It is truly inspiring. She has become involved in some wonderful groups, such as Holden Uganda, that do amazing things, and I'm happy to play whatever small part I can to help. I know they have much greater things ahead of them, and I can't wait to see what they will accomplish.

Please check out her blog and the causes she has chosen to help through Running With Ryan. She chose to focus on Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for her race last month. NILMDTS has professional photographers that donate their time and service to give families portraits and photographs of these children that are taken too soon. In addition to financial donations, if you know photographers, please urge them to volunteer their service to this great cause.

The next post will likely be after the race, so I will let you know how it goes.

Love You Angel Ryan!

Happy 9 Months Angel

It's hard to believe already 9 months have passed since Ryan left us. So much has happened during that time. There have been some silver linings we have taken from what happened, and I want to write about one of those today. 

My sister has met an awesome and strong group that have been and continue to go through the same thing. They mean more to each other than any of us can ever understand. One of those women is Sarah. She and her husband Chet lost their son Holden on August 28, 2010. They, along with some other friends, created the Holden Uganda Foundation to build wells in Uganda that provide fresh drinking water. Each well is dedicated to a baby that left Earth earlier than we would want. Ryan's well is #10 (thanks to a generous and anonymous donation by a single donor.) 

Holden Uganda is holding their first 5K Fun Run for Water this Saturday August 27th, 2011 (one day before Holden's first birthday.) Whitney is really excited about the event and has been helping in the organization of it.  A Running With Ryan team has been created for the event with the goal to raise enough money to fund one well (the goal is $2246 - twice Ryan's birthday 11/23.) 

I have signed up to run the event "remotely" in California as part of the Running With Ryan team. I would like to ask you to make a donation if you can. No amount is too small. $5 donations add up and are very much appreciated. Thank you for anything you can give even if it is just support for the people involved.

Love You Angel Ryan!

Finished... Now Back To It

It's been a couple of months since I ran the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon and a little longer than that since I've written an entry for the blog. It seems every time I sit down to write about it the words just aren't there. It was such an amazing experience that I can't find the words to accurately describe how it felt to run that race with Ryan. She was with me the entire distance and definitely motivated me through the tough stretches.

Waiting in the corral for the race to begin.

It ended up being a warm and sunny race morning. There were so many runners that it made for a slow and crowded start. I was able to pick up my pace as the miles went along and my race splits started approaching my training times. In the end I finished at 2 hours, 7 minutes and 25 seconds. It was short of my goal, but I am content with it for my first half marathon, especially considering the slow start. Another person using a GPS watch said she actually ran 15 miles due to the zig-zagging around people, so maybe that also played a part.

My half marathon medal; pretty cool.

Ginger and me post race. Well done us!

Since the race I haven't been doing the full-on training for another half marathon, but I have continued running among other physical activities. I did run a 5K with the gym at work on my birthday. I finished in the top 10 with a time of 22 minutes and 59 seconds. I couldn't believe that pace after I finished. Crazy fast for me.

Me and other from the Sony running club after the 5K.

The training will start back up in earnest soon. I've signed up for another half marathon. I'm really excited about this one. I've been looking at it as a possibility for at least 7 months. I'll be running the Big Sur Half Marathon on November 20, 2011. That is three days before Ryan's 1st birthday, so that adds more meaning to it. I can't wait to give her this birthday gift. The course looks absolutely amazing as it winds along the cliffs of Monteray Bay in Northern California. Once again, I'm asking you to make any donations you can to the charities Whitney has chosen for Running With Ryan. Even better if you would like to participate in a race yourself, please buy a RwR t-shirt to wear and help raise money too.

Thanks everyone for your support leading up to the last race and for all the support I know will be coming for the next one. It means so much.

Love you Angel Ryan!

One Week to Race Day

It's exactly seven days until the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, which I chose as my Running With Ryan half marathon. This has been a decent week for my training, and now I start tapering off to be ready. I got in a little over 16 miles total in running to go along with a couple of days at the gym. I'm on a four-day weekend, including hosting a grill out session on Saturday (smoked two pork shoulders and some bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos). The first two days didn't include any running even though they were intended to. I did get in almost six miles today. Running Activity 5.91 mi | RunKeeper I'm ready to have some nice short runs this coming week and will probably have some other activities mixed in (tennis, hiking, etc.).

I'm a little nervous about the race, but I'm also extremely excited to do it. Physically, I'm ready. I know the tough part will be the mental push to finish the full 13.2 miles. Judging from my previous races the adrenalin will be high to start, so I'll need to keep that in check so I have some left in the tank for the last few miles. I know Ryan will be with me for the whole thing, so that will help push through any tough stretches I hit.

I made a donation to Molly Bears in honor of running this race with Ryan. It's a great cause, and I know the Ryan Bear has meant a lot to Whitney, Rob and Natalie. It's awesome knowing that my donation will mean that much to another family going through that pain. If you can, please make a donation to Molly Bears and help a grieving family. If you can make it in honor of Ryan that would mean a lot to our family as well.

Love You Angel Ryan!

Happy Six Months Angel

My sweet niece Angel Ryan. It's so hard to believe that six months have passed since you went to Heaven so much earlier than anyone anticipated. Around this time last year I was flying to Texas and getting to meet you for the first time. You were still only 3 months or so in my sister's belly, but you took part in adventures during that trip. There was a huge traffic jam in Louisiana where you got to experience your Uncle Michael's road rage. There was a crazy lightning and thunder storm as we got into Birmingham, Alabama where we stayed one night. And of course there was the deer that jumped in front of the van just outside of Atlanta.

Once back in NC, I talked your mom into a day trip to one of the most special places in the world to me Chapel Hill so I could get some pictures of you, her and Natalie. I don't think I had to do much convincing though. I was so grateful to get those pictures and became even more so about 6 months later. It was only a few days with you during that trip, but that was a great time I got to spend with you, your mom, older sister and puppy dogs.




Sadly I only got to spend a few more days with you in person after that. In the six months since November 23, 2010 I have enjoyed our runs together more than I can put into words here. I have a feeling you know how special they and you are to me. In 13 days I will do something that I set as a goal back in November as a way to honor you and help other people remember how special you are. I have been training for this half-marathon, and I am ready for it because of you.

Each of the last two Saturdays I've done challenging runs and you've motivated me on those runs. On May 14th I ran in the Cinco de Mayo 10K Trail Run at Lake Poway. It was up and down mountain trails including a huge incline up the mountain around the half-way point and an uphill finish. It was the most physically challenging run of my life, but every time I looked down at my shirt I saw your footprints and name. That pushed me to keep going. This past Saturday I ran twice around the Lake Miramar 5-mile loop to match my longest distance yet. Running Activity 10.01 mi | RunKeeper

On June 5th I'll beat that because I'll be Running With Ryan. Happy six months in Heaven my Sweet Angel.

Please try to donate to one or more of the charities that Whitney has chosen to honor Ryan. Remember to specify that the donation is in honor of Ryan Elizabeth Watts or Running With Ryan so it can be counted towards our goals. Thank you everyone for reading and remembering.

Love You Angel Ryan!

One More Month

It's exactly one month until the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon. The training has had its good weeks and its bad weeks, but more good ones than bad. Last week was a bad one because it seemed like I had something to do after work everyday. I got a run in on Sunday, then got to the gym on Monday and Wednesday. I went out to celebrate a friend's law school graduation on Tuesday, so there was no run that day. I did my Thursday morning run club at work and I did a 3 mile walk for the March of Babies with work on Saturday. That was a good time with coworkers and it was for a good cause that has a small relation to Running with Ryan. I wore my RwR shirt and had a few people ask about it, so hopefully it gave us some exposure. Still, only two runs during that week. Not my best effort.

This week has been "better" so far. I planned to run on Sunday, but it was perfect beach weather. I went down to the beach with one of my friends for a few hours then had fish tacos and a beer. No running after that. I came home Monday and got in a 4 mile run along the cliffs despite a tight hamstring making for a slow warm-up. On Tuesday my left leg was still very tight, but I pushed through for a 6 mile run on the cliffs and up the big hill. I switched it up and went to the gym Wednesday with some elliptical machine thrown in.

That brings us to today and one month from the half-marathon. I got up early this morning for my run club at work with no problem. We got a late start because the instructor was sick and couldn't run. Within the first half-mile I hit the edge of the sidewalk with my left foot and ate pavement, twisting my ankle in the process. I got up and walked a few yards and decided I could still run on it. I stayed at a slower constant pace, even dodging some obstructions in my path. I was able to finish the 5-mile loop feeling pretty good. I got back inside and did some post-run stretches, which is when the ankle started hurting more. By the time I had showered and dressed it was not feeling great at all.

The run instructor noticed my limping on the way out and asked what happened. I told her and she took a look at it. She said it is likely a sprain because of how I rolled it and where the pain was. She wrapped an ice pack around it and sent me on my way. Hopefully it starts feeling better as the day progresses and it doesn't end up being a sprain. I'm trying to stay off my feet as much as possible, so that should help. Tomorrow is an off day and I was only planning a short run on Saturday, so maybe it will be fine by then. We'll see. Either way the training will continue next week.

Please remember to check out my sister's blog at www.runningwithryan.net. Also please continue to send well wishes and any donations you can in honor or Ryan Elizabeth.

Love you Angel Ryan!

It's Official... My First Half-Marathon

I'm both excited and nervous about this, but I have officially signed up for my first half marathon. I will be running the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Diego on Sunday, June 5th.

http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-diego

It's a big jump in race distance for me, but Running With Ryan makes it all worth it. I'm going to set a goal of 2 hours and 2 minutes, which would put me right around a 9:15 per mile pace. That is around my normal pace for 6-8 mile runs, so hopefully I can carry that over the full distance. I was able to run a much faster pace for the ACT Today! 10k earlier this month, but this race would almost double that distance.

I will be raising money for the four charities that my sister has chosen for Running With Ryan. They are Holden Uganda, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Molly Bears and For Your Tears. I can take donations locally, but if you're not in San Diego it will be easier to donate online or mail a check to the specific charity. Please remember to specify that the donation is in honor of Ryan Elizabeth Watts, so it will help Whitney track the progress of Running With Ryan. You can also purchase Running With Ryan t-shirts and the proceeds will go to these charities. You can find more about all of these causes on the Donate page at Running With Ryan.

Thank you everyone for any donations and/or encouragement you send. Every bit of it is appreciated.

Love You Angel Ryan!