Marshall Ramsey

Goal weight: 195 lbs.

Time is at a premium right now. I’m working two jobs and have three projects in the hopper.  Not complaining — oh, no. Everything is a blessing. Just saying that I’m busier than I have ever been in my life.  It would be oh-so easy to skip exercise because “I don’t have enough time.”

That would be a fool’s decision.

I remember watching a motivational speaker do a trick with a jar, rocks and sand on stage once.  You know, the one where he tries to put sand and rocks into a jar but it doesn’t fit — until he put the big rocks in first, followed by pebbles and then sand.  SHAZAM!  It magically fits!  The magic is placing priority on what is truly important in your life. When you are busy, you schedule first things first. Family. Health. Work. Those are the big rocks in the jar.  Exercise is one of those big rocks. Without it, you don’t have the energy and stamina to be able to accomplish the rest of your to-do list. And you lose the most healthy form of stress relief around.  I can cut an hour of pebbles and sand out of my day to make room for an hour of exercise.

Yesterday I chose to draw instead of run.  I finished the drawing in the time I would have done my morning exercise — and I hated the drawing.  I had to start over, wasting the whole hour.  I should have run.  This morning, I put that rock in the jar first thing.  I ran 5.03, saw the sun try to rise, four deer and a rabbit. I burned 800 calories and burned a lot of stress.

I’m determined to accomplish great things. But I need to be in great shape to be able to have the stamina to do it all.  Now to put the pebbles and sand in the jar. I have a busy day ahead of me.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs

Today’s Weight:198 lbs.

I had intended to run three miles. I ran four.  It was too nice and I just kept running. My balky knee held up yet again today.

My friend Shannon asked on her Facebook page what music she should listen to while she runs.  My advice to her would be, “music you like.”  My friend Keith likes listening music that calms him and lowers his heart rate. While I do have a running music playlist, I usually listen to books. It’s a great opportunity to learn. But when I get REALLY tired, I fire up the special Rocky playlist (laugh, but it works).  When I’m in a race, I leave the headphones at home. My friend Randy  said he runs without headphones and listened to nature around him.

I think it’s a matter of personal preference. I’m usually running for an hour to two hours at a time, so I sometimes turn off the iPhone and allow my mind to wander into prayer and reflection. Other times it is good to hear your heart, footsteps and breath.  But most of the time, I use it as an opportunity to learn.

But always remember this: If you are running where there is traffic, make sure you are aware of your surroundings at all times.  If I’m running around a lot of cars, the headphones stay home.

I don’t feel like having BUICK tattooed on my butt.