Marshall Ramsey

Today’s Monday. Normally, I’d run at least five miles. But I took it off. In fact, I sinfully slept until 4:50 a.m. ( Ah, the rest.) Why was I so amazingly lazy?

My long run was yesterday.

I ran over 10 miles and my legs feel it today.  (and so do my knees). My heart rate climbed into the 160’s and near 170 by the end of the run, so I was producing more lactic acid (a waste product of anaerobic exercise). My old legs are tired. It’s time to recover.

I’ll be back out there tomorrow morning.

Goal Weight: 185 lbs.

Today’s Weight: 196 lbs.

I didn’t have time to run today. I am in the middle of a massive project due Thursday. I’m stressed that I might not get it done. When my alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. this morning, I thought, “I can get another page done (I’ll illustrating a book) in the time I’d go for a run.” Even as I was getting ready, I about punted my daily run.

But I ran anyway.

Why?

1. I would’ve missed this sunrise.

2. I would’ve been ticked off that I missed my long run.

3. I would’ve missed this amazing morning to run (it was cool and less humid).

4. I would not have had the energy to plow through my long schedule today.

I made a choice.  A choice to run 10.07 miles this morning.  Now as I get to work, I’m thankful I did.

Goal Weight: 185 lbs.

I have a ton of work  to do on a book I’m illustrating for Dave Ramsey (and another book I’m also illustrating for my friend Santa Claus).  I “slept in” until 6:15 this morning and now am starting to color pages on the computer.

Today is the first day this week I haven’t run  — my old legs need a rest.

Rest is a very important part of the equation and boy oh boy, do I need it.  My legs are whipped. I also want to take full advantage of the cold front that came through last night. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be in the mid-60’s and low humidity. The PERFECT morning to run a long run after so many days of 80’s and mugginess. I’m looking forward to it.

So get out there and have a great Saturday.  I’m about to tackle my to-do list!

Like a cool breeze on a hot muggy morning, hope has a way of lifting a defeated heart.  I was really struggling through my run this morning.  At four miles into the 5.17 mile route, my legs burned from being full of lactic acid. Lack of sleep caused my head to pound nearly as hard as my heart.  I looked around for some hint of the sunrise.  None.  It was just me, an occasional street light and the inky dark.  Exhaustion and despair, the two infamous running partners, were threatening to pass me.

And then the breeze blew. I felt my sweat cool and for a moment, I felt a strong sense of peace.

The worry. The fear. The anger.  All the things I’ve felt over the past year and a half just melted like butter in a hot skillet.

I felt hope.

I felt hope and the sense that not only were things going to be better, but that they were going to be great.  I felt like that all the challenges my family has faced have just served to make us stronger. Closer. Better.

I realized that every bad thing was a blessing — if (and only if) we learned from it. If we didn’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

I was still tired.  I’ll be honest with you, I’m exhausted. But I realize being tired is temporary. The change I’m making in my life is permanent.

The cool breeze wrapped around me and lifted me up at a moment of need.  And then it was gone.

I continued my run and now, my day.  I’ll keep plugging ahead on my life’s journey.  But I’m so very thankful for the small moments when you get that momentary lift. The lift that helps you continue on your journey’s path.  The path to use your talent and make the most of your time on earth.

I am thankful for the breeze.