It’s been so busy around here that I haven’t had a chance to post in over a week. The last several days have been full of highs and lows. Let me bring you up to speed, or lack thereof, as it were…

LOWS

• The pain I experienced after falling during my long run two Saturday’s ago. The disappointment I felt when I discovered my ankle was blowing up like that of a 37 week pregnant woman and then turned black and blue from my calf to my toes.

• Hobbling around in an ankle brace wondering if all the miles I had put in training for the Chicago Marathon were a total waste of time. Beating myself about how I could have possibly been so stupid to fall. The embarrassment I felt having to explain my clumsiness to everyone.

• The end of another summer. I can’t for the life of me figure out how it always goes so fast!

HIGHS

• The high I experienced during my long run two Saturday’s ago (before I fell).

• Receiving a new part-time job working as the Director of Communications & Community Outreach for the Forest City – Weingart Produce Company doing work in which I am deeply passionate and very excited to begin.
• A visit to the doctor for an x-ray of my injured ankle which revealed that it was not too severe and that I could run as soon as I didn’t experience pain.

• All of my favorite end of summer traditions; The Great Geauga County Fair, a trip to the beach at Lake Erie and the first home football game of the season.

• After a very mentally challenging week off from running to recover, a successful test run for a pain-free 3 miles and then another encouraging 5 miles today. Restoration of hope that I might be able to run The Chicago Marathon on October 11th after all!

As I reflect on the events of the past week I realize that life will always be filled with these highs and lows. Without them life would be pretty… lifeLESS. This week’s lows were really nothing of much importance in the world. Even so, it’s how we maneuver through the peaks and valleys that reveals our true character. And sometimes the tough days are actually what help us enjoy the easy ones. Like I often say to my children, “Every day can’t be sunny. If they were, we’d take them for granted. It’s the cloudy days that help us appreciate the sunny days even more.”