Well, I have not been very good at keeping up my blog. I was on break and enjoying myself greatly. Even though I was on break, I did not let myself go....I ran 6 miles with my sister on Saturday and 3 on Friday for a total of 9 miles during my four day break. It was a slow 6 mile run, but I was home in NC and the weather was warm, so I felt great while running. I was really sad to go back to PA because the weather is still so cold. Which made it very painful to run yesterday. My sister and I ran 3 miles yesterday in the wind! The wind was so strong yesterday that I had to turn my head to the side in order to breathe ! Haha....my sister is so great! She is probably my one and only single source of motivation for pressing on with this goal ( not really but you feel me right?). She always meets me in my room and pretty much forces me to run with her. I always enjoy doing it, it's just the getting to the doing part that is the hardest. Unfortunatley this will be the only post for this week, as I have 2 quizzes and 3 tests this week !
I also want to give a shout out to one of my best friend, Sarah Calhoun.....Happy 21st Birthday ! Wahoo!
I will leave you with this verse, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
One Step at a Time
Let me start by first addressing the quote I put in my last post by Eric Liddell. His name may not ring any bells right off the bat, but if I mentioned Chariots of Fire I bet I would be jogging a few of your memories ( ha ha a little runner's humor ). I love this quote for the sole purpose that he gives complete credit to God. The feeling of euphoria, the ability to even run, he credits to God. As a runner, I can definitely relate to the feeling of God's presence when I run.
I have decided ,rather then to jump into this full swing, to take the marathon in strides.....I would be nuts to think that I could just jump into something like this. I am going to train in steps. First a 5k, of which I have already completed. Then this summer I plan on running a 10k with my sister of which next I will continue to increase mileage and move onto a half marathon which as of right now I am planning on running in the fall. Then after the half marathon, increase, again, my mileage and do some hard core training for the marathon in the spring. I think that this is the most sensible way of easing into a marathon. I have read countless times how runner's bodies give out while training for a marathon due to lack of proper training or over exerting their bodies by putting on to much pressure in such a short time. I have no plans nor the energy for that ! I believe this method to be fool proof !
My Cross-country's team shirts in High School read one year : " Do you have the heart? Our sport is your sport's punishment. " When you think about it in that way, it seems crazy to pick the sport that other teams are punished with. But that is why I love it, because while no cross country runner has ever made it in Hollywood ( which as the looks of it nowadays ain't a bad thing), the mental discipline, character and physical benefits of running surpass any other team sport !
Que pases un buen noche !
I have decided ,rather then to jump into this full swing, to take the marathon in strides.....I would be nuts to think that I could just jump into something like this. I am going to train in steps. First a 5k, of which I have already completed. Then this summer I plan on running a 10k with my sister of which next I will continue to increase mileage and move onto a half marathon which as of right now I am planning on running in the fall. Then after the half marathon, increase, again, my mileage and do some hard core training for the marathon in the spring. I think that this is the most sensible way of easing into a marathon. I have read countless times how runner's bodies give out while training for a marathon due to lack of proper training or over exerting their bodies by putting on to much pressure in such a short time. I have no plans nor the energy for that ! I believe this method to be fool proof !
My Cross-country's team shirts in High School read one year : " Do you have the heart? Our sport is your sport's punishment. " When you think about it in that way, it seems crazy to pick the sport that other teams are punished with. But that is why I love it, because while no cross country runner has ever made it in Hollywood ( which as the looks of it nowadays ain't a bad thing), the mental discipline, character and physical benefits of running surpass any other team sport !
Que pases un buen noche !
Sunday, February 20, 2011
....and miles to go before I sleep
It hasn't even been a full twenty-four hours and I am already updating my blog. I think I could get addicted to this! I always liked the idea of keeping a journal to express my thoughts and opinions in words that others would not see. The problem with it was that I struggled and still struggle with the thought that "what if I lose my journal or it gets placed in the wrong hands and suddenly everyone knows all my bad thoughts that I have been thinking about people?" Because let's face it....I was not going to journal about my day or what I ate or who I had a conversation with that day. No, if I was going to journal, I was going to journal about the mean and ungodly thoughts I had that day of my friends and family. A sort of release of feelings from pen to paper rather than out loud. I rationalized the idea with that it would be helpful to me to hold my tongue in the moment knowing that I would be able to release my feelings later that day in my journal. Yet, I could not ignore the voice in the back of my head saying, "Morgan is that really edifying? Shouldn't you just pray about it and dismiss those thoughts all together?" Probably.....no not probably, Yes! Of Course I should and that is why journaling and I never got along!
Thanks to the movie Julie and Julia, blogging became a new fad. The thing about Blogs that I prefer over a personal journal is that anyone can see what I write. Therefore if I want to uphold my Christian name and not defame the name of Jesus in the process, then I am restricted from spewing my feelings about others on this blog. This not only helps me to think positively and deal with others in a more positive manner but it helps me to see Christ in everyone. That is why I have chosen to maintain this blog for the use of a motivational journal about running instead of an overview of my life. Through my postings I will strive to maintain a Christian dignity that goes along with all my posts.
Now for the real reason I am writing this. What in the name of Sam Hill was I thinking when I chose this title? For many reasons actually. Number one, all the really cute blog titles were already taken ( as I have jumped on the blogging wagon a little late ). Number two, and the real reason is that this line of Robert Frost's poem sums up in essence my journey through running. "...and miles to go before I sleep." I have so many more miles to accomplish before I am ready to run a marathon, before I can be fully satisfied with my progress. In October of last year, I ran a 5k race for cancer with my sister and some friends around the corner from my college. It was here that I originally stumbled upon this verse as it pertains to running. I love running and look forward to accomplishing my task of a marathon with my faithful companion...my sister....by my side.
I will leave you with this quote from Eric Liddell as I close this post:
" I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Have a wonderful and Blessed Sabbath
Thanks to the movie Julie and Julia, blogging became a new fad. The thing about Blogs that I prefer over a personal journal is that anyone can see what I write. Therefore if I want to uphold my Christian name and not defame the name of Jesus in the process, then I am restricted from spewing my feelings about others on this blog. This not only helps me to think positively and deal with others in a more positive manner but it helps me to see Christ in everyone. That is why I have chosen to maintain this blog for the use of a motivational journal about running instead of an overview of my life. Through my postings I will strive to maintain a Christian dignity that goes along with all my posts.
Now for the real reason I am writing this. What in the name of Sam Hill was I thinking when I chose this title? For many reasons actually. Number one, all the really cute blog titles were already taken ( as I have jumped on the blogging wagon a little late ). Number two, and the real reason is that this line of Robert Frost's poem sums up in essence my journey through running. "...and miles to go before I sleep." I have so many more miles to accomplish before I am ready to run a marathon, before I can be fully satisfied with my progress. In October of last year, I ran a 5k race for cancer with my sister and some friends around the corner from my college. It was here that I originally stumbled upon this verse as it pertains to running. I love running and look forward to accomplishing my task of a marathon with my faithful companion...my sister....by my side.
I will leave you with this quote from Eric Liddell as I close this post:
" I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Have a wonderful and Blessed Sabbath
Saturday, February 19, 2011
that which does not kill you, can only make you stronger
I have never been an athletic person, God did not bless me with those attributes, He did however bless me with an incredible stubbornness that can be viewed as athleticism. When I was a sophomore in High School, my algebra 1 teacher, who just so happened to be the cross country coach, asked me if I would be at all interested in joining the cross country team. Now, you are probably curious as to what my teacher was thinking when she asked little unathletic me to join the team? Were you? I certainly was! I gave no thought to the question and said "yes!" That's right, I said yes. What was I thinking? Well, I really wasn't thinking except for the fact that being on a sports team could look really good on my college applications, and that cross country required little to no developmental skills. Perhaps it would make me popular, although being popular in my little private Christian school meant nothing, it was worth a thought.
I embarked on the journey of a runner. If I was going to be on the cross country team, I was going all out. I bought the magazines, the clothes, the shoes, the really cool and stylish ( and completely unnecessary ) water bottle. My first practice wasn't so bad, I began to think that maybe being a runner was my hidden talent. I could almost see it.....crossing the finish line in first place at internationals with a record time. That thought motivated me for those 2 practice hours. But then I woke up the next morning.....I couldn't get out of bed. I was in so much pain ! I had been to the gym maybe once before that practice, so why I was thinking this was going to be easy for me? I couldn't quite, although I seriously considered it.....my parents were so proud of me for taking ownership of my health and wellness and disappointing my Dad is something I dread ( plus he told me he was going to train me into a runner and was so exciting about it. I think he secretly wishes my sister and I were boys so he could have someone to play with.....instead he got us! ).
I did succeed in cross country and improved vastly. Becoming a runner was one of the best things that happened to me. The sense of euphoria you get when you finish a run is incomparable to any other. Although I am not a superb runner, I still love it.....and this long segway is all to say ......I'm going to run a marathon !
When? Where? How? I have not given thought to. But you my readers are going to read about my journey every step of the way.
"Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
- Robert Frost
I embarked on the journey of a runner. If I was going to be on the cross country team, I was going all out. I bought the magazines, the clothes, the shoes, the really cool and stylish ( and completely unnecessary ) water bottle. My first practice wasn't so bad, I began to think that maybe being a runner was my hidden talent. I could almost see it.....crossing the finish line in first place at internationals with a record time. That thought motivated me for those 2 practice hours. But then I woke up the next morning.....I couldn't get out of bed. I was in so much pain ! I had been to the gym maybe once before that practice, so why I was thinking this was going to be easy for me? I couldn't quite, although I seriously considered it.....my parents were so proud of me for taking ownership of my health and wellness and disappointing my Dad is something I dread ( plus he told me he was going to train me into a runner and was so exciting about it. I think he secretly wishes my sister and I were boys so he could have someone to play with.....instead he got us! ).
I did succeed in cross country and improved vastly. Becoming a runner was one of the best things that happened to me. The sense of euphoria you get when you finish a run is incomparable to any other. Although I am not a superb runner, I still love it.....and this long segway is all to say ......I'm going to run a marathon !
When? Where? How? I have not given thought to. But you my readers are going to read about my journey every step of the way.
"Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
- Robert Frost
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