Marshall Ramsey

The sun is sleeping in these days, so I left the house in the dark.  It was 6 a.m.  Lord knows I could have used the sleep. But I was a good boy who listened to the angel on his shoulder, not the devil. I crawled out of bed, took Pip the dog outside and then got ready to run.  I set out toward the Natchez Trace and hit the Multipurpose Trail. The humidity was up today — today’s run was much harder than last week’s.  Scrounging for water (I bring a bottle with me and then live off the land) I ended up drinking three quarts.  My socks got wet. And then my shoes (which means it is like running with concrete blocks on your feet).

I ran toward Old Canton Road and then cut back toward the Reservoir. I ran into friends and saw a couple of deer.  A giant swan swam along the shoreline. Clouds obscured the shoreline but that was ok.  The Reservoir’s mood changes with the sky.

Eleven miles later, my legs are tired.  I burned 1,770 calories and probably sweated a gallon.  I listen to a great book while I ran.  I’m glad I ran my long run.  Humidity and all.

Ran without my music again this morning. Was treated to a symphony of bugs, wind blowing in the pines and several deer rustling in the woods. It was 4:30 a.m. and pitch black.  I was just running, listening to my footfalls and breathing.  Various muscles were sore. I felt my age. No, I felt older.

This has been a busy summer. I’m finishing up my third book in three months.  I’ve lost a beloved dog and had a new one burrow into my heart. I haven’t slept much.  I’ve burned the candle at both ends and in the middle.

But I have continued to exercise.  I thought about that as I ran this morning — how important my fitness plan has been to my survival and success this summer.

My book will be out in a few weeks.  And I’ll be running again — this time around the state promoting it. I thought about that, too, as I ran in the dark. My heart beat quickly as I finished up my run this morning.

I have never felt more alive.

I don’t love running. I love how running changes my life.  But somedays I really really like running. This morning really wasn’t one of those days.  My back was sore and I felt nauseous. But after the first mile, I felt better and managed to get my 5.11 miles in before I got back to the house.

Somedays are like  today. You just do the best you can and push ahead.  I finished, got a cool drink of water, stretched, hit the shower and got ready for the coming day.  I plowed through an uncomfortable run, declared victory and moved on.