May, June, July and now its August

Wow time files... So what have I been up to since early May... Well here is a catch up of what I have been up to and I promise I am back on the blog bandwagon.

Let first by saying knowing that I have a little girl on the way has been really exciting time. Our first baby shower is this upcoming weekend and I am really glad I am still able to run. Although I am much slower I am glad I am still able to put one foot in front of the other. So as you go through the photos you will certainly notice the growing "belly..."

Gallery Gallop-one of my first races back after Knoxville. Sand is the keyword for this race. It was so beautiful running on the beach though. Plus a 2nd place age group award never hurts.

Got up the very next morning and ran the Chicago Spring Half Marathon- really took this one easy. It was a beautiful day on the lakefront and I finished in 2:0323

Soldier Field 10 Miler- Loved this race last year. I was slower but had a great time with my running peeps.

Memorial Day weekend is always capped off with the Xtreme race in Portage. Always though, always fun!

This year I got I signed up for our local XYZ Trail racing series. The first weekend in June was the Blackcat Strut. It was a short race so it made me feel fast. Followed by a night race over in Gary that was also short but I won a pineapple!

 The next weekend was followed by our local Duneland YMCA's Firecracker race. A muggy morning but this is when I really started to nice that it was going to be tough to keep up with the super fast ladies in my age group. I got 6th place though!

So I went out for another one because why not? The Public Enemy 5K was a pretty tough race but I had a great time seeing so many friends and all the cool stuff that my friend Tim Fealy brings out for his awesome local races.

Then we took our little girl to the beach for the first time... I can't wait to tell her all about it.

When we returned we hit one of the toughest 5K's in Northwest Indiana, the Running Wild for the Washington Park Zoo. 1 mile of sand is really hard to run on when its not easy to run on sand. I finished and had a great time.

I followed that race up with our local 5 Miler called Buckley. It was hard. I ran better than I thought I would and look at all these friends I had there! Still on pace to finish all the XYZ races... I probably won't but I am giving it my best.

Last week I went out for another 5K, Running up the Scoreboard. I was just over 3 minutes slower than last year when I was in prime shape so I can't be too upset.


Needless to say I am still moving. I am still a runner and just because you are pregnant doesn't mean you can't do what you really love. I am really proud of myself for continuing to do what I can do.

Kalamazoo Marathon Recap

Since I had signed up for this marathon knowing it was only about 5 weeks after Knoxville I felt good about it. I had several friends go ahead and sign up as well. My awesome friends Lisa and Ron offered their cottage for us to stay for the night so we didn't have to worry about a hotel.

I drove into Kalamazoo with my friends Tim and Sue. We went straight to the expo and picked up our packets for the next day. The expo was very small and there was not really anything to see so we didn't stay long. I was able to get 2 honey stinger gels for only $2 so this was exciting.

After trying to get the most amount of sleep I could the night before (which is practically impossible the night before a marathon) we got up and began our normal marathon morning prep. Shower, dress, check for gels, put Rehydrate in my water bottle, drink some Spark and Rehydrate and eat breakfast. Then we were on our way to the start. It was very windy and cold so we found some indoor restrooms and took advantage of them and took our pre-race photos. We also made sure to let our friends who were pacing that we had made it.

We made our way to the start line and since only the marathon started at 8:00am it was easy to make our way over to it. Sue and I found the 4:30 pace group and lined up with them. Tim went off to the 3:45 and our friend Lisa was right behind us as the 4:45 pacer.

The first 5 miles went by fairly quickly. The first several miles are down and flat. There were a few small rollers and once we hit the University of Western Michigan there were a few small hills. The crowd and the energy was great. After mile 5 the wind was really starting to bother me and I just wasn't sure how the day was going to go. Miles 5-8 went by very slow. We didn't have any water stops and even though there was crowd support 3 miles without water seems like 100 miles. Just after mile 8 we hit the first big hill. The is where the elite pack was passing us headed toward mile 12. Wow look at them go. Just after mile 9 we saw our friends Ron, Tim and the 3:45 pace group. Miles 9-11 were through an industrial park. The wind was brutal. It was either pushing you, blowing you or just plain annoying. Once we came out of the Industrial park and hit mile 11 there was a huge down hill followed by a huge up hill. Sue really pulled me through these next couple of miles because I could tell this was just not going to be my day. Mile 13 is the most exciting crowd supported mile on the course. They have bacon, fruit and lots of people ready to cheer you on. We hit mile 13.10 just shy of 2:13 and I was pumped. We had time to spare and I felt we were on course.

As the race wore on though I just felt more and more tired. I knew from the race the previous weekend that the pregnancy was really starting to make me feel tired faster. I hardly remember miles 13-18. I do know that the wind never gave us a break and I was feel tired. Just after mile 18 we went across a bridge and I have no clue what was in the water but it was the worst smell I have ever smelled in my life. Just after that we made a left turn onto what appeared to be a running/biking trail. It was mostly uphill and I felt like I just couldn't go. It wasn't steep but at this point it felt like it was. Sue and I found our place with some older gentleman who could not have been more sweet. One of them had run 355 marathons! The other's son had  finished 2nd in the half marathon. I thought I could run 2 minutes and walk 1 the rest of the way. It was somewhat going well until the hill right around 22. It was huge. Sue was already to the top before I was even halfway. At the top the nice crowd had Popsicles for all the runners but I just felt awful and wanted to keep going. Miles 23 and 24 are mostly a blur. Sue was too far ahead for me to see at this point. I just kept trying to go forward. I saw a lot of worn out runners. 

Jut after mile 25 I heard a familiar voice day Deanna... I knew it... Lisa my friend who was pacing 4:45 was about to pass me. It took everything in my body to push but after the hill I stayed within a very short distance of Lisa. I was on the home stretch and I could see the finish but it seemed like I just wasn't getting any closer to it. Finally 4:44:04 DONE! It was off from my goal but I did it. Marathon number 6 was in the books and my 5th state was completed. 

I don't know exactly what caused me to just breakdown but I did. Being pregnant maybe?! The wind, the course or only a 5 week recovery after a very tough Knoxville. All could be factors but I'm just really glad I came across that finish line and remained strong! 

Another Marathon and a Blog Annoucement

Most of my readers know this but I thought I would make an official blog announcement...


I'm going to be a MOM! Coming this October!



There are so many things changing but the one thing I do not plan to change is to stop running. This Sunday I am going with some friends to the Kalamazoo Marathon.


As a runner I just want to keep doing what I love. I hope to do it as long as I can. I have overcome most of the tried stage but I can tell I am slowing down. My most recent race was windy but I could tell I just couldn't quite keep the pace I would want. All I know is that I am not going to give something up I love or use my pregnancy as an excuse. I might get slower but my fight will remain the same.

Knoxville Marathon Race Recap

Well its been nearly a month but I am ready to recap the Knoxville Marathon as I am preparing for the Kalamazoo marathon this weekend. When my friend Sue was the winner of the free entry to the Knoxville Marathon back in November I kept my commitment and signed up. The training this winter was BRUTAL but I felt ready. I decided to run this one in honor of my Nanny since it was her birthday.

We arrived in Knoxville Saturday afternoon and picked up our packets. Found a cute little spot for a last minute carbs and headed back to our hotel for as much sleep as possible.

The next morning we were lucky our hotel was very close to the start line. So after a quick bagel with peanut butter and taking some Spark I was ready to head outside. At the start line we were a bit cold but once we took off the first hill right away I was already feeling warmer. 

The first 3 miles seemed to fly by but it was crowded since the race also included a half marathon. Sue and were really impressed by all the entertainment. By the far the best had to be just after mile 6. They had signs every where and really kept our mind off the race. Then came mile 7... the largest hill of the race. I started to slowly jog up when Sue really kept it in perspective and said lets conserve our energy and walk. Once we made it just past mile 12 the half marathon split off to complete their race and we continued on. As we headed out for the 2nd half of the race I was still feeling pretty good. As we continued through the race I could tell I was feeling tired. We hit mile 19 and I was starting to feel the race. We hit another rough hill and I knew again I had to take it slow. As I approached mile 20 I just kept pushing on. Sue was right there with me until about 21 and this was the first time I realized she was not side by side with me. The volunteers continued to be great. As the later miles approached I knew I was slower than I wanted to be. I knew that mile 24 was going to be a hard mile so I was trying to prepare for it. As the mile approached I had no idea just how it was going to hit me. Mile 24's hill hit me harder than I could have ever imagined. After that I was just exhausted. At the top of the hill there was a very long bridge and I was trying to make it all the way across and the fatigue just hit me. I finally hit mile 25 and was feeling better knowing I was closer. As we came down the hill I thought maybe it was finally some relief but I was wrong. Another incline with the 26 mile marker at the top. Once I finally managed my way to the top I took off. I ran as hard as my body could physically let me run and into Neyland Stadium where the finish was. I hear my name "Deanna Grimes, Merrillville, Indiana" and I just smiled.

 I had done it. 26.2 miles and marathon number 6 and state number 4 was in the books. 4 hours 38 minutes and 02 seconds. Sue came in right after me and I was glad to be reunited with my two favorite running buddies Tim and Sue.

Jason was right there waiting with warm clothes for us of course! 

My slowest marathon to date. In the coming weeks many have asked how it went and I just keep saying I finished. The truth is that is really what I was happy about. I found out about 30 days prior to the marathon I was pregnant with my first baby. The week of the marathon and including the day of I was sick to my stomach and exhausted. I did do it though and that's what matters. Not all the races go as planned but I finished and that is really what matters.

Marathon Training and Gold Cup Banquet

Every where you turn these days its all about the weather and the Polar Vortex. After hearing some of the stats on the radio today this has offically been the worst winter since I moved to Northwest Indiana 7 years ago. The toughest part has been being able to get outside. As I am preparing for another marathon for the first time the weather has really gotten the best of me. I have been able to muster up enough "umpf" for my long runs so far. The treadmill is just a place I really hate to get in my mileage. Although at times it is necessary to resort to indoor running I know that I need to get in as many outdoor runs as possible. The snow has done some good for me... it is pushing to me find routes that I can run. These routes are much more difficult than where I would normally run. They slow my pace but it is also forcing me to prepare the hills in Tennessee. 

The roads were pretty snow covered this weekend. It made the footing very difficult. I made it though... 12 Miles Saturday... This is the same hill I ran last weekend with no snow... much more difficult this weekend. I am really glad my friend Tim came put and suffered right along with me again. 

Saturday was also my running clubs banquet. In 2013, even though I had a great year personally I did not run as many races as I would have liked so I ended up 6th out of 13 runners in my age group. I had an aweomse time at our banquet. I am so glad I am part of such an awesome running club.

Then Sunday... with even more snow I went out for another 10 miles with friends. 

It might not be have been easy but I got it done and had a great weekend. 

A Weekend of Running for Meg

At the end of this week as most runners around the country did I signed up to dedicate a run to #megsmiles. A runner name Meg from the Richmond, Virginia area who was hit and killed by a drunk driver. For me this just meant sticking to my marathon training runs. This is the first winter I have ever trained for a marathon. So far it hasn't been terrible but it certainly has not been as easy as I thought.

Saturday I set out for my shorter of my two weekend runs. I knew with my first marathon of 2014 being in Tennessee I had to get in some harder and more hilly runs. I set out on a route in Chesterton, Indiana with a group of runners who were ready for challenging run dedicated to Meg.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Little and I'm the awkward cold girl...

I mostly ran with my friend Tim. He is great company and a beast of a runner. He is in training for another 50... seriously. He truly inspires me. The hills were not easy and 9.08 miles of running a hilly route was just what I needed. Although running with Tim the miles just flew by. I also kept in the back of my mind that the run was for someone who was no longer out on the roads. The sun felt great and the weather was really not as bad as I anticipated. 

Photo courtesy of Marie! (thanks Marie!)

Sunday another group of running friends and met at a local school since we once again received even more snow yesterday and our bike trail is not an option to run on. The fast boys took off and we told them to have fun. Then we set out for two miles and picked up our friends who wanted to run shorter. The wind running south was brutal. I was so cold. At times my hands hurt I was so cold. We ended up running about another 5.5 miles out through the town of Crown Point. After we made the turn the street was slick and the wind was absolutely brutal until we finally made the turn to head back north. The sun started to peek out and it felt so great to have the sun on my back and the wind at my back. It was like I got a sudden since of relief. Only 7 more miles I can do it. We ran all the way back into the square of town and some people split off who needed to go or wanted to run shorter. Three of us ran another block to McDonalds to try to unfreeze the water bottles. We started doing some circles around town. Then there were two of us. 3 miles to go... The snow was really starting to get to me. My left foot was starting to hurt from running on packed snow. We rounded a corner and popped into a Speedway. Warmth. It felt great to be able to catch my breath. Finally we decided ok back to the car we go. As we were running into the wind my friend Tim and I took turns blocking the wind for each other... block by block by block. As we started to approach where our cars were I started to watch the tenths of miles click by... As were about to the school parking lot I told Tim 17.60... we have to circle the parking lot... so we did. We dove into our cars and turned the heat on. Of course we got back out for a post run photo. 

It was the hardest 17 mile run I have ever run. I never quit. I never thought it wasn't possible. I just kept clicking on and did it. Thankful to Tim for sticking it out with me. 69 days in counting until Knoxville!!

I Love Running

A fellow runner in my local running community named Karen whom I have grown to know a little more recently often will shout who loves running? Karen's enthusiasm for running is so contagious. You cannot help but laugh or smile when you are out running with Karen.

Seriously she can crack you up!

Hi I'm Karen and I LOVE RUNNING

Sometimes though we need a little reminder that really... I do LOVE running. It doesn't matter with who, what, when, where or why we are running. Running is a sport about just going out and doing it. Often you don't need much. All you need is shoes and out the door you can go. I have seen some people recently who seem to have lost sight of what the running sport should be about... RUNNING. The best part is that there are so many places to run, people to run with or even ways you can run. You don't have to be a Ultra Marathoner to be a runner. You have to just go out the door put your feet to the ground and go. It doesn't matter why or how for long. For me I just love what it has done for me. After picking up the sport of running I have a found belief that truly anything in life could be possible.

Just like when I am training for a marathon.
I pick a race.
I set a training schedule.
I follow through with the training schedule to the best of my ability
I set out for the race. Sometimes I hit my goals and sometimes I don't... I always cross the finish line.

So tell me do you LOVE running?