My Beginnings

My name is Isaac Morris. I began running competitively freshman year of highschool. That is a little misleading… I started a month or so before my first day of classes. Probably around mid July. This was our high school’s pre-season and is typical for any decent high school and collegiate program. I was shy and a little chubby. I joined the team on a Saturday. It was their long run. After some introductions, the coach went through each class. Varsity guys were going 14+ (2016 the tail end of greatness at North Central). These guys were definitely hitting 70 miles/week or more. He went down the rows: 10-12 miles, 8-10, 8. 8 miles being the minimum distance for a “long run” and reserved only for the true newbies. Onward, the standard was 12+. Coach asked, “How far do you think you can handle?” I had no idea. I’ve never run “for fun” before. He suggested 5 miles. A distance that is not even considered an easy run these days. I went with the assistant coach on this jaunt. I was dying. And for context, I was wearing dork shorts (shorts longer than the typical 2-3 inch inseam that runners usually wear) and a random pair of sneakers that were not suitable for the task. I also did not have a watch, which would be interesting to look at today. I completed that 5 miles gassed, but something kept me coming back. I do not know why I didn’t just stop there and say I am never running again… I guess it was a love at first sight sort of deal. The coaches didn’t know that. I was still not truly committed and they were probably questioning if I would stick around. That memory is vivid. And I remember the people I met too. Guys that ran before high school. They were able to do the 8-10. I was the slowest guy there by far and in conversation expressed extreme doubt about my capabilities. I could go into more detail about those summer days, but I need to move on. Let’s just say, I kept training at that low level. July, August, September… A decent base of running. I ended up opening 10 September 2016 with a 19:40 5k. Wow, huh? Well, wow for me looking back. For reference, that is 6:19/mile pace, and when I say, wow, it is not good. 19:40 5k was a pace that would have kept me in junior varsity (JV). To a recreational runner or those people out there who “hate” running, this might seem fantastic, and I suppose it is in relative terms. I mean 2 ish months of training on probably 45 mile weeks and getting that time? Decent. For all things running, not so decent. Anyway, I give this stat as a marker of where I began and to compare it to where I am now– 14:29 (indoor 5k) and going through my first 5k in a 8k or 10k in 15:00. This is what life is about– progression, progress, change, advancement, whatever you want to call it. I feel stuck at the moment. I have platued at 14:30s for a few years now, but when I was running 19:40s, 14:30s felt just as unattainable, so I will keep my sights set on my sub 14 goals still…