Choices

I haven't really had much to say lately... I have been slightly injured post Chicago Marathon.


I don't really know how to explain what it is like for someone like me to not be able to run. There are dozens of blogs about running and injuries.

There are a few things I know that running does to for me...
Quiet moments with myself.
Being able to find moments of pride that I don't have to share with anyone but myself.
 The feeling I get just after finishing a good run and feeling so good.
Getting good ideas just because my endorphin's are going.
Being able to set goals higher than I ever imagined achievable.
Allows me to stress less about my weight and more about continuing to achieve something.

I took some time off last week and Sunday was my first run beyond 4 miles and it was 6. So far I do not have a ton of pain but I still feel my body not liking it. So Wednesday I do go to the doctor.

This coming Sunday I am doing my first race post Chicago. I am running in one of my favorite events... the Fall Frolic 4 miler at Purdue Calumet in Hammond, Indiana. The event is special because it was the first ever 4 mile race I ever participated in and so I am very excited to return to the event this year.

Today I saw this... I refuse to give in or give up. I will give it everything I have to continue to stride on. I hope you do to.

Wedding Bliss

Last week was a busy but very fun filled week and weekend.

My middle sister Jenna got married.

She was an amazingly beautiful bride. I'm so happy that she was able to marry someone that makes her so happy.

No one can make me cry, make me laugh, make me smile... like she does...

I must admit... This wedding was a really good time. There was so much love and so much happiness. I said in my maid of honor speech that it was an honor to be there and celebrating her special day.

Confetti snow angels... you mean you don't do this at weddings?

The best part was there were so many people there that I had not seen in a long time and we had an amazing time celebrating Jenna and Ricky's big day. Just like them they made their wedding as fun as they are. They even had the photo booth which was one of the funniest and most entertaining parts of the night.

We danced a lot... I even earned 17 activity points with my according to my active link.

 It really was an amazing day to celebrate with not only my sister but one of my very best friends.

Try Something New Tuesday...Yoga

Yes I did... I tried something new today.

So this lady here is my Mom...yes I still listen to her as if I am a teenage girl and she will yell at me if I don't. I also know she is not a fan of boring exercise  She is thinks running is crazy... but is absolutely so supportive of my running adventures. So she said especially knowing I am injured and bummed... YOGA Deanna... YOGA...







So I give you try something new Tuesday... Yoga.

One thing that running has given me is drive. I refuse to think I couldn't have done something today. So at the recommendation of a friend I headed to Yoga by Gretchen in Hobart. I was very nervous because I hate the thought of just being quiet with myself in a room full of strangers. Being quiet and having time to think during a run is great but I wasn't sure how I would feel about yoga. So when I arrived the girl said this particular class is "You call it yoga"... which today was "hard."  I had already drove there so I figured what the heck. Well she was right... I couldn't even do everything they were doing but I must admit... I liked it. It felt good to step out of my comfort zone and do something different. I also liked this class because it was a combination of weights and yoga. They also played some up beat music and really made it fun. I like that they also offer so many different classes that you don't just have to do Yoga there. I'm not sure how I will feel tomorrow but I'm hoping glad I went to the class.

When was the last time you forced yourself to try something you thought you would totally hate but then actually liked?

Pain... No gain

They say no pain no gain...

Well when there is pain.. There comes a time when you have to recognize it...

Today, I Deanna Grimes admit... I am injured. I must not run and must rest.

I am not happy about this but it must be done. My knee could not handle anymore today and the back side of my ankle aka... my Achilles tendon are just plain killing me.  I don't think there is anything worse for a runner than shutting it down. I know this is the only thing that help. There are so many things we can control but injuries just happen. So when times get tough the tough have to get going and I have to make action plans.

I tell those struggling all the time that you have to continue to fight and you must never give up. Besides...

Source: pinkcricutlove.blogspot.com via Deanna on Pinterest

I'm not dead.
I'm not hospitalized... yet
I am strong and willing to fight.


So I am making a plan B and trying to figure out every workout possible that does not involve my lower body.

Source: livingachangedlife.blogspot.com via Deanna on Pinterest

When was the last time you were forced into plan B?

Favorites Friday

Here is what I love today...


Canned Pumpkin...
I love this stuff. My favorite is as always to put it in my oatmeal with some cinnamon or even some pumpkin pie spice if you have some. However there are several other good uses... Click this link for the Hungry Girl Article about all the amazing ideas she has.

Source: hungry-girl.com via Deanna on Pinterest

Post Marathon Running
Most runners who run are almost always training for something or staying in good running shape for an upcoming event. One week post marathon it feels good to just be out doing whatever feels good. This week I did almost all short distance running and felt like I remember all over again why I love running.

Laughing at myself
I do this often.

Today I am totally laughing at my pictures where I look totally miserable at the Chicago Marathon and

others where I am totally soaking it in and actually enjoying the race to its full extent.

Today I leave you with this...

Source: simplyshredded.com via Deanna on Pinterest

New Beginnings

Post Marathon... It was tough getting back I could barely move. Then I saw this.

Although there are so many things that went right. There were some that went wrong.
Stomach issues continued during this marathon.
Foot didn't hurt during the marathon but as soon as I stopped it was killing me.
My shirt ended up chaffing my arm so I had to stop for vasoline.
This picture is clearly where I am feel every bit of this...

Today is a new day. Start over. Don't look back. Time to set a new goal. So far I think I am really setting my sites of this...

Source: providingnews.com via Deanna on Pinterest

What is your goal? How do you choose a new goal?

Chicago Marathon Recap

October 7, 2012
26.2 Miles

I can't even begin to explain in words what this marathon was like. Here is best I can explain it.

Friday... Expo for bib pickup
I went with my friend Nikki and we had so much fun exploring the world of running.

This was the most crazy awesome expo I have been to. I even ran into Hillary. She is a friend from back in Ohio who had been training really hard and she did awesome on her first ever marathon.

Hillary and I.

3:25... wake up, eat breakfast, get ready to leave

4:10... picked up by my neighbors Misty and Dave

4:45... leave the Target in Munster for the race

.... the rest is kind of a blur...

6:40... In starting corral for about a hour. I made a plan to run the race with Sue a fellow runner. Another runner Jeromy was also making a plan to run with us the entire race. Here we are waiting to go to our starting corrals.

7:40ish... cross the start line and we were off.

Around mile 1 I was so high and I even spotted a runner whom started me running and I haven't stopped since... Nikki... Lets just say I was so excited to see her... The Chicago Tribune loved my reaction so much they put me on the FRONT PAGE!!!! Lets just say when I woke up this morning and someone said I was on the front page I was in shock and even more in shock when I saw this...

They also caught this picture of us...

Mile 1-5 seemed to fly by... then we made it to the local Calumet Striders water stop just after mile 5... here we are looking strong. 

Miles 6-17 Seemed to just click by. There was so much to see, so many people and so much encouragement. Jeromy and Sue both laughed because my name was called out so many times they felt that they should just call themselves Deanna. 

Miles 17-20 Seemed to take forever... I was really starting to feel the race. Sue was also. After mile 20 she just couldn't keep up anymore... I honestly was even asked what happened to you that last part of the race... I have no clue. I just mentally started talking to myself and the miles seemed to click along. I was not going to let this race stop me. My stomach hurt and I wanted to vomit at every bad smell I passed. 

There was so much crowed support from Wrigley, Little Italy, China town... all of them were simply amazing!! The best signs I saw were... Chuck Norris has never run a marathon, Do Epic Shit, and Runners have balls... all other sports just play with them. Here is also a video my boyfriend shot... I have no clue where this was but its me running.

Then I hit mile 23 and I knew I could do it. I looked down at my watch and knew I had a good amount of time to beat if I just maintained my pace. My boyfriend caught this picture of me around mile 25... you can see the exhaustion in my face... The crowed made me feel so amazing though. They were so uplifting consistently telling you that you could do it. 

Overall I finished!!!! 

Place Gender	4571
Place Age Group	1036
Place Overall	15038
Finish Time	04:13:54

It was 1 minute and 6 seconds better than I wanted... It was also marathon personal record by 8 minutes! I can't believe I was able to kick it in so much at the end and finish it up.

The NWI Times even wanted to know what I thought about the marathon.. Click here for the article.

Again there are not enough words that could describe how this marathon went. I was overall amazed how well I did. I guess the NWI Times article summarizes how I really feel... Never give up.