Tower of Terror 10 Miler 2012

So Ryan and I just signed up to run a 10 mile race on our Disney vacation. I don't know what I am thinking. Nothing about running says vacation to me. I guess it is really important to Ryan, so that is why I signed up. He keeps telling me I have plenty of time to train which, although true, I really have no motivation for. I like my 5ks and that's about it. This is more than three of those combined. I guess I am just praying I don't get picked up by the sag wagon. Here's to finishing the Tower of Terror 10-Miler. What did I get myself into?!

Check out our new Rychar Runners page for info on all of our running adventures past, present and future.

2:26:37

I'm so proud of Ryan! We just got back from Austin where Ryan ran the Austin Half Marathon. He hasn't been able to run much lately with all of the long hours at work, homework, class and selling the house. But, he shaved around 10 minutes off of his time from the last time he ran a half. Also, he said it was the hardest course he had ever run, what with all of the hills in downtown Austin. I am super proud of his committment and dedication to this sport. Until the next race...

New Year's Double

Ryan and I decided that to ring out 2011 and ring in 2012, we would run in the New Years Double event. Ryan chose to run a 1/2 marathon on New Years Eve and a 5k on New Years Day. I chose to run a 5k both days. I did okay, but Ryan did awesome. He won second place in his division for the 5k. So proud! The first day we ran, we received half of a medal. The second day we ran, we received the other half and a casing medal they both fit into. They are awesome. We also got a tech tshirt and a long sleeved tech tshirt, which were very nice as well. This was a pretty easy and fun race. Flat track, all sidewalk. I think we may have to consider coming out for these races again next year. Happy New Year!

Run 1.3

C25K. Today was Week 1, Day 3.

Stats
5 min warm up, 1 min run then 1.5 min walk (8 times), 5 min cool down
2.5 miles in 30:06
12:01/mile
270 calories burned

I had a mishap with the app this time. I had run .51 miles during the warm-up and then the app reset itself somehow. I have been really picky about making sure I follow the app to a tee, so I started all over with the workout when the app reset. Therefore, I did a total of 3.1 (a 5k) official miles in 36:46. That's 2:17 under my lowest 5k time. Perhaps this app is working after all!

Run 1.2

C25K. Today was Week 1, Day 2.

Stats
5 min warm up, 1 min run then 1.5 min walk (8 times), 5 min cool down
2.44 miles in 30:10
12:21/mile
260 calories burned

Run 1.1

I am doing a C25K running program app on the iPhone right now. It is pretty awesome as it really has helped with my pacing. I think that pacing has been my biggest barrier to getting faster 5k times. The program has a run scheduled 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Today was Week 1, Day 1.

Stats
5 min warm up, 1 min run then 1.5 min walk (6 times), 5 min cool down
2 miles in 25:42
12:49/mile
210 calories burned

13.1 A Lot of Fun

Yesterday morning Ryan ran his first half marathon in the Dallas Arts District. My mom and I went and waited near the finish line to cheer him on. He ran it around 2 hours and 7 minutes. He only started training in February of this year, so this was a really big accomplishment for him. I think he will now start training for a marathon. I'm so proud of his hard work and determination!

Just Keep Running, Just Keep Running

So I decided to commit to running...again. I've had a love/hate relationship with running for quite some time now. I hated running when I was in high school. I remember that, every trimester, I had to run a mile under 10 minutes to earn a spot on the sports team of the season. I remember hating that day, running my guts out until I threw up, and worse. I was a horrible runner and a bit chunky in high school. I hated running in circles on the track for no reason. Now, put me on a basketball court, and I could run the entire game. (a) It didn't seem like running and (b) there was a point to it all.

When I went to college, it was "cool" to work out, but I never really did. I kick myself now because I didn't take advantage of the awesome "free" gym. I ran here and there. Mostly I played intramural basketball and tennis. Again, running seemed like a horrible past time to me. I have just never been successful at it.

That brings us to now. I am getting older and pounds fall upon me easier than they once did. I have steadily been eating healthier over the past 6 years, but it just wasn't cutting it anymore. so, I made a new promise to myself. No, the promise wasn't to run, per-say. The promise was to set no real specific goals, deadlines and the like. Just to get out and run more often. Not to necessarily be faster, run further, or run more often than the week before. Just to get out there, even if it is just walking for 30 minutes. I find myself jogging about 1.25 miles per day now between 6-7 times per week. My mile time has been decreasing as my stamina goes up. One day I would like to run a 5k in around 30 minutes, but whenever that happens, let it and if it doesn't, that's okay too. I just need to move.

I finally rewarded myself with a new pair of running shoes. Seeing as how I have chondromalacia (Chondromalacia patella is abnormal softening of the cartilage of the under the kneecap. Chondromalacia patella results from degeneration of cartilage due to poor alignment of the kneecap as it slides over the lower end of the thigh bone.) new shoes were probably a must if I was going to continue to run. I did the whole buy shoes at Run On thing, so I didn't so much get to pick the shoes. The staff there picked out 5 pairs that best fit my pronation and preferences when running and I got to choose from those. I ended up with these:

Now I wouldn't have gone straight up to these Emerald City shoes and talked about how awesome they look, but I also decided it wasn't about look it is about comfort and what is best for continued running stress. So, here's to me and my emerald shoes, may they take me where I need to go.

Thrill of the Grill 5K

Today, Ryan and I participated in our first 5k, Central Market's Thrill of the Grill. Ryan was a rockstar and turned in a really good time 26 minutes and some odd seconds.  I on the other hand was not as awesome. I turned in a time around 29 minutes and a few seconds. Under 13 minutes per mile, but no where near where I'd like to be.  Anyway, here are a couple of pictures, one of Ryan and I waiting at the starting line and the other of the race about to begin. 

Although running in these races isn't really my thing, I am sure that I will do another one of these in the future. Not the near future as summer is fast approaching and I am not running in 90+ degree heat. I do think that we might just participate in this same 5k again next year. It was really well run, not too big of a race (only 1,700 runners) and we got an excellent Central Market breakfast afterward. All in all a wonderful day, minus the running and all. Just kidding!

Ready for the Thrill

Ryan and I just signed up to run our first 5K together and I am pretty excited. We decided to run in the Thrill of the Grill 5K held at the Central Market in Plano, benefiting the Plano ISD Education Foundation. My goal is to run the 5k in under 30 minutes. Not a huge goal as I do it all of the time in my workouts, but there is a large difference for me running on a treadmill indoors and running in a large crowd of people outdoors. Now this race isn't as large as say the Race For The Cures held around town, but last year they had around 900 participants. The best part? The race registration fee also gets you in to a breakfast buffet with live music. All in all, I think this is going to be an awesome event!

RyChar Runners

I can't believe I am saying this, but somehow, somewhere along the way, Ryan and I became runners...kinda. Ryan and I both downloaded the Nike+ GPS App on our iPhones and have really made a commitment to exercise and fitness. Ryan is, as in everything, so much better at sticking to it than I am, but ah well. I was proud of myself to have run two miles at a time and to run the two miles in around 18 minutes. Maybe not so great a run, but considering I have detested running all my life, I am proud.

Hopefully we can both continue to be fitness minded. This week hasn't been so great as we have both been really busy at work, but I think we are on the road to success.