Summer 2017---Thumbs-up? or Thumbs-down?

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times....

No, not Charles Dicken's famous novel, but the summer of 2017. Specifically, my summer.


This summer was a polar opposite example of what my typical summers are like. My summer started off great, but the greatness was short-lived....read on:

In May, the  Des Moines Women's Half Marathon and the Market to Market Relay both ushered me into summer with an enthusiastic excitement for what was to come. (Both thumbs-up!)

I ran this 13.1 course with practically ZERO effort, and had a great finish time

Market-to-Market Relay...I ran a cumulative 16 miles

In early June, I ran my 10th consecutive Dam to Dam Half Marathon....although we had some unexpected high heat and humidity, that race has been my favorite race ever since the first time I ran it. (Another thumbs-up!)

Another Dam race with the hubby

And, let's not forget Grandma's Marathon! Although I had a weird energy/fatigue crash, I never felt like quitting, and I had a blast running most of the race with my gal pal, Rachel. In the end, I wound up setting a "course PR" (though not by much)...but a HUGE thumbs-up none the less.

Feeling oh-so-tired, but energized as well

Then, a few days following Grandma's finish line, my world did a complete 180. A recent outburst of knee bursitis returned with a vengeance, landing me (unexpectedly) on the operating table with an emergency surgery to clean out a staph infection (that one of my local docs had missed). (Major thumbs down!)

I spent an entire week in the hospital, fighting the staph infection and waiting for the suture seam to  stop draining. So, the running shoes were carefully put into hiding, and I began the slow process of recovering from a surgery that probably could have been avoided. (thumbs-down to the max)

My week-long vacay came complete with an IV and wound vac

Thankfully, my infection was not as bad as it could have been. The surgeon informed me that we caught it just in time, or I may have needed a skin graft to correct the damage done...and my running days would have probably ended. Yikes! That was a definite thumbs-up (in the big picture scheme of things).

My new reality

In an attempt to make the best of my less-than-desirable situation, I started naming some of the major players. (triple thumbs-ups)

The IV pole that accompanied my every move in the hospital was named Guido

The PICC line that went home with me was named Linus

And the suture seam/scar that would be with me for the rest of my life? His name is Voldemort

I had two races on my summer schedule that had to take a DNS (Did Not Start)... and I had some pretty painful FOMO to face. (definitely two thumbs-downs)

When all of the stitches were removed, I was given clearance to walk (with caution). With that, I had a new perspective.....although I wouldn't be running in the early summer hours, I could still get outside and WALK. (Bigger-than-life thumbs-up!)

I was SO happy to be back outside in my favorite season

Throughout all of this, I had a pretty significant revelation: Instead of being bitter and envious of all of my friends who were logging miles in the summer heat, I chose to be thankful for what I could do. I was still able to be outside, after all, and I was still able to walk (even if it wasn't my sport of choice). There are lots of other injured runners who can't even do that, and they'd probably trade places with me if given the chance. Every mile is a gift and should be appreciated, no matter how slow, hot, or uncomfortable. (Big thumbs-up!)

I have logged many miles (like, 270+ miles) this summer (since that surgery) by means of walking, and have been able to keep my fitness in check. In fact, I may be in even better shape now than I was before the surgery. I certainly have a much better perspective on things, and I know I will never take another mile, run, or race for granted. Ever. How's that for a thumbs-up?

So, all in all, I have to give the Summer of 2017 a thumbs-up. It certainly wasn't anything I could have predicted, but it was what I was given and I'm happy to be coming out of it a better, stronger person. Life is, after all, what you make it, right?

How did the summer treat you? Any big goals knocked outta the park? Any setbacks? Any requests for a do-over?

**I'm linking up with Marcia and Patty and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run... We're talking about Summer 2017. Join the party!

...and with Susie and Debbie and Rachel and Lora for the Running Coaches' Corner.

 **And with Nicole and Annmarie and Jen for the Wild Wednesday Workout