Marshall Ramsey

Exercise doesn’t just improve your body. It also sharpens your mind.

My goal this 12 weeks is to perform better when I’m physically and mentally exhausted.  To learn to stay focused on what is truly important and allow the small stuff to slip past by me.

I didn’t do that well today.

I slept three hours last night. Why? I’m very worried about the health of a couple of family members who are close to me. I could have slept in — but I didn’t. I showed up and did the work. Yes, I made mistakes — and I paid for them.

I ran off the field disgruntled; mad primarily at myself. But I fought through my fatigue. A journey to mental toughness requires days like today.

I’ll never get athlete of the year. But by God, I’m not going to quit.

And that’s half the battle.

OK, so 80% of success is just showing up. But who wants to make a B?

This morning, I was darn lucky to just show up.  I could list at least 10 solid excuses why I should have slept until 6.  But everyone has an excuse.  What makes a person is better is overcoming those excuses.

I was exhausted out on the field today.  I got through Clark’s core workout pretty well (you would not believe how much better I am at this than I was two years ago.) Morgan’s drill was tough because I can’t crab walk for squat. I have a bad shoulder and it hurts like hell to do it — but like I said before, what makes a person better is overcoming excuses.  My arms were toast by the end of it, though. Right in time for the weight room.

I work out with Mike. Mike is stronger than I am, but I like that. He pushes and encourages me.  I’m getting a lot more out of the weights than I have in the past.  I had flashbacks to football training as I benched (although the weight is a lot less than when I was 18.)  It was a triceps intensive workout today. I feel it now as I type.

After the weight room, we heaved the weighted blue ball down the field. It was a glorified 200-yard sprint.  We did that twice. And then I stumbled through the last drill, which involved 50-yard sprints.  I ran nine miles Saturday. I couldn’t catch my breath today.

At the end, Paul read the poem, “Man in the Glass” (one of this favorites.) Here’s the last stanza and the meat of it:

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

I didn’t just show up today. I didn’t cheat the man in the glass. But I know I can do better.

I want an A. I will work harder tomorrow.

This is the fourth time I’ve done a Paul Lacoste bootcamp. And the one thing I have learned for certain is that it is more fun if you are in good cardiovascular shape. So I run on the weekend.  I try to keep my heart and lungs up to snuff so during the week I can focus on doing the exercises the best that I can.

Today, I ran nine miles.  My total distance is down a little from my normal long run (I’ve battled leg muscle tightness lately), but I still get in a good run.  Also, the heat and humidity of late summer have beat me down.  I can’t drink enough water on the course. And I sweat enough to fill the Reservoir.

Today I ran the Natchez Trace and the accompanying Ridgeland Multipurpose Trails. I ended up doing nine miles and honestly, the last two miles were a challenge.  Not because I am in terrible shape — but because my shoes get so full of sweat that it is like running with concrete blocks on my feet.  Add to it fatigue from the first week of PLS — well, it was just a tough run.

But I did it. I burned about 1,300 calories and I saw several friends out running.

As I passed by “the Oak” (the one I always photograph), I thought about all the challenges this year has brought.   I chugged on past it and smiled. I knew that no challenge can stop me as long as I do my homework.

I like motivational quotes, find them slightly inspiring and occasionally will give one a passing glance. But I saw one on Twitter yesterday that jumped out at me and smacked me up the side of the head because of its simple but brilliant truth:

Life rewards action.

It’s 5 a.m. It’s dark. You can’t see three feet in front of you and you’re kind of glad you can’t. ( Because no one in your line looks particularly great at 5 a.m. when they are working out.) You have rubber pellets in your shoes and in your ear. You’re sore. The first week of training is almost in the books and your muscles are completely pissed off at you. But you’re there. You’re making a change in your life.  You are taking action. And you will be rewarded.

Life rewards action.

It may be as simple as your clothes fitting better. Or it may be more energy at work or at home.  Those are short-term rewards. Long term, you will be “that guy or woman” at the nursing home, who is healthy and fit.  You will live while others are sitting in a corner drooling on their bingo card.  You’re making life changes for the better.

Life rewards action.

I’ve read numerous studies that suggest that we only use 10% of our brain power.  Wow!   And I know there are times when we don’t use 100% of the physical power we have either. I thought about that while I was running the A-frame of the stadium today.  I felt like I was maybe saving a little for the next drill. I started pushing harder.  I thought about it when I didn’t think I could keep up during the second wall stand with Clark. But I pushed on.

Life rewards action.

Today we did half burpees, gassers, shoulder exercises and more.  Today a miracle happened in the dark.  We got stronger, faster and better.  We took action this week. And you know what happens when we do.

Life rewards action.

I’ll be running tomorrow and Saturday.  Sunday is my day of rest.  Because sometimes life rewards rest, too.

Have a great weekend!