Running with the Devils 5K Recap

Saturday was the Running with Devils 5K in Lowell. I really enjoy this race for a couple reasons 

Cheap, close to home, a great organization and it's a slightly harder 5K. 

I was really unsure what to expect since last year I was coming off being really sick. At the starting line I ran into my fellow running buddy Josie who said she would be there. I told my friends I am going to do my very best to keep her I'm my sights because I knew she could be the one to pull me through at a really good time. 

At the start of the race it was crowded but Josie was still in my sights. When we hit the first main road it was easier to keep my eye on her. I was feeling really strong so I just kept pushing. Them just before mile 1 I overheard some high school boys make a mean comment to a much younger boy who was passing at the same time I was. (Side not the entire Lowell football team runs this race). I was not happy so I yelled to them that they needed to grow up! 

I hit mile 1 and I felt strong and was so happy with how I was running! I was still burning through from the high school boys. 

The second mile went pretty fast and I was still feeling good and holding pace even though the we were going through a lot of rolling hills. A grab some water as I hit mile 2 and took a swig of it. 

Once I saw how well I did through mile 2 I knew if I didn't give up I would pull off a good time. So I kept trucking along. Then the sun and final hill of the race hit my face and although I pushed hard the last mile was slightly slower. Then I saw the 3 mile mark and knew I was going to PR! So I pushed as hard as I possibly could as a fellow runner friend Tim saw me and was yelling for me to push and I did! 

Crossed the finish line in 24:43!!! 

1:06 5K PR!!!!

2nd out of 11 in age group

101 out of 324 total 

Awesome run! Awesome day! I haven't been this proud of my hard work in a long time! 

Above picture is me with one of my favorite families in the local running community and they won a team award! They rock! 

No Limits

So I took a small break from the blog to focus on my life for a couple weeks. Today I started thinking during my run how good I was feeling. 4 years ago my journey began and so far I've killed every goal 

Lose 50 pounds 👍

Run a 5K 👍

Run a half marathon👍

Run a Marathon 👍

PR at 2nd Marathon 👍

Run 50K 👍

Current goal is to PR again at a marathon. 

Over the past week I've started pushing my body to run harder than I ever have before. 

Saturday a friend helped push me through 1.5 mile repeats at just over an 8 minute mile.

Sunday I ran 8 miles on my own at 9:00 minute pace.

Yesterday I pushed myself through some hills in Valpo.

Today I pushed my pace harder than I ever have during a longer run. 

What have I learned from this? 

Really there is nothing that can truly stop is. I know my goals this year are really high but if they weren't they wouldn't be goals. 

Friendship 5K Race Recap

This past Wednesday was the Friendship 5K at Wicker Park. I have done this race 3 years in a row now. The thing I like about this race is that it is on a Wednesday so it allows people who may work weekends to do a 5K. It's also always a very community friendly event. So after work I headed over to Wicker Park to check on and hang out with friends before the race started. To say the least everyone including myself was slightly worried about the heat. We all lucked out though because a good amount of cloud cover came right before race time. The park also had a good amount of shade cover. The men started at 6:30 and the women at 6:35 to keep the traffic minimal. The first mile flew by and I felt pretty good but was shocked when I ran the first mile in 7:57 and knew I needed to dial it back a little bit. However a fellow runner friend Nikki was just ahead yelling for me to keep up so I tried hard to keep her in my sights. Mile two seemed to take forever and I ended up running slower than I expected with an 8:40 pace. I could feel myself slowing down and I knew I handle slightly more. I also know the park so well it started to motivate me that I was less than a mile to go. When I passed by the finish I was seeing a lot of awesome runners really helped me kick it in. When Nikki passed me at the turn around that really motivated me to push hard and I passed a couple more runners. Overall a good race. I finished!

26:04 (15 seconds slower than last year)

5th out of 35 in age group 

20th out of 153 women  

Feeling very proud of my results 

30 Day Challenge Results

I hinted on my blog back in June that I joined a 30 day challenge. Today is technically day 32 so I'm still going and loving it! So what did I do?

Joined a Shakeology 30 day challenge led my a former school mate/running buddy Hillary 

Requirements

Have Shakeology everyday for 30 days

Workout 

Make Healthy Choices

Report your day every day on private Facebook group 

So how did it go?

Well considering I took a vacation and had a sudden unexpected and difficult death in my family...Better than I ever expected. 

I about lost 3.6 pounds

I'm starting to see some changes in my body shape. One of the keys is to incorporate over all body training. As a runner I get in plenty of cardio but the beach body program encouraged over all body training. I did lot of core/ab work plus some other intense workouts that a friend gave me. 

I love using the shake as a meal replacement. My friend Emily a beach body coach told me the other day everyone has their favorite time of day to enjoy the shake well mine is defiantly breakfast! I can drink it in the car on the way to work and not think about traffic or anything except enjoying my shake! 

I was really happy with my before and after picture results. 

I am also happy to say I'm committed to helping others and I'm excited to coach others. If you're ready for a commitment then join my 30 day challenge beginning 8/5! Email me at grimesdee@gmail.com and clcik the link below to read more about beach body! 

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/DEANNAGRIMES

Running is cheaper than therapy

IOver the last week I have had an opportunity to run with several different running friends and we discussed the power of a good run. The best part about being a runner is you can alone, with one person or with an entire group. I have discussed on my blog the love I have for the running community but sometimes it's the run itself. Things I believe you can do and achieve on a run. 

Meditation/Prayer: A run can allow you quiet time. Especially on a run alone it's just you and the road. I believe you can spend time talking to God if you choose to. There is time to gather your thoughts and sort out the things that could be weighing on you. 

Good ideas: I admit this may not be everyone but when your a long distance runner there is a lot of time to just sit and think. I really believe some really good ideas or decisions can be made when your mind is clear and it's just you and the road.

Healing: Every single runner is human. We all are going through life and someday are harder than others. However you have those moments to cry, talk, or even just be silent it is a Jane of coping. We can't heal all wounds but when you have those private moments they allow for a special form of healing that can be hard to find. 

In the end all I know is I need running not just for the fitness but for my mental well being. This is why I run when it's cold, hot, raining or evening snowing. I just never know what I will discover, learn or heal from on a run. 

Never Forget

So I have been MIA for a couple weeks now... Here is what happened in that time
1. I went on vacation
2. My sister's dad (who helped raise me) died
3. I ran a lot... I'm not sure who believes that running is therapy but I sure do.

Needless to say it has been a rough time.So I thought I would just use my first post back to talk about the loss of my sisters dad Jeff. He married my mom when I was 3 and he really helped shape the person I am today.

Brad Paisley wrote in a song "I hope I'm at least half the dad he didn't have to be..." This is so true. Jeff gave me so much more than just being a step dad. He was always there. I can still remember how proud he would be when I would tell him about a run. When I lost weight 2 years ago he was so proud of how hard I worked. The thing I can say is that he might not have been my dad but he always made me feel like family. He was there from teaching me to ride a bike, play softball, get my drivers license, see me graduate... and so many more important life events. I will forever be grateful for all of things he did. He will always have a special place in my heart.

The best thing that Jeff gave me were these two girls... Jenna and Kristen. They are my sisters and my best friends. We share a very special bond that can never be broken. I love them so much and I am glad that Jeff gave me these two because I love them so much.

Run for Freedom 5 Miler Race Recap

Yesterday I set out for a very hot race. The Run for Freedom 5 Miler at Wicker Park.

I arrive early and worked the Calumet Region Strider tent.

I really wanted to take it easy and not push myself too hard at the race. So the first couple of miles I took it nice and easy.

As I approached mile 3 a lady in her drive way said the storm is coming. I thought ok great I'm going to get wet. At mile 3 I saw water. The guy in front of me knocked the remaining water off the table. So I didn't get any. Since I knew the rest of the park very well I knew what to expect. The final water stop was also out of water. Then the wind picked up. I looked at my watch just about .50 to go. Then the rain came, the wind came, the very hard rain came. It was the worst less than a mile I have ever run. It broke my iphone but I finished. 2nd place in my age group! I was also 43 out of 132. I finished and I proud. Now I am going to the beach for a week...

With Jennifer at the finish. She was 2nd overall female... she is totally awesome!