“I used to find running so easy and it came naturally to me. Now I really have to work at it.”- Morgan Gaffney.

There is truth that it pays to be in the right place at the right time, as found out.

In life, we all encounter challenges that can be life-changing and require adjustments.

Determine what is important in your life and how will be available for others.

Morgan may not be training for the Olympics, but there was something taking place with the thought process.  It is easy to say what you want to do, and it is another thing to put that into action.

Carefully read Morgan’s words and visualize her going in between the runners as she passes and gets passed. Morgan was an athlete on a mission and her mindset was to deliver on her plan.

The following interview with Morgan recounts the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile run in Washington, DC. It is possible to walk away from the sport and to return.

What was your motivation for registering for the CUCB 10-Mile Run?

It has been years since I have found time to run the CUCB 10-Mile Run. I have also applied in the past and have not gotten in. Since I completed the race last, I have had two children, gotten a demanding job and experienced a pandemic. It finally felt like the right time to get back into running.

 

My close friend Alex Flowers also helped motivate me. We signed up as a group and held each other accountable while training for the race.

How did you start the sport of running as a form of physical fitness?

I have been running since I was a child. During my time in Pre-K, my mom used to take me to a track, and we would go running together. I was on my elementary, middle school and high school track and cross-country teams.

I continued to run leisurely to stay in shape until I had children.

What was your strategy for the race? 

My strategy was to beat a 10-minute mile average. It is tough to swallow, knowing the older I get, the slower I get. 

In the three years which you ran the race, did you use the same strategy?

(2015-1:29:48, 2016-1:30:59, 2024-1:34:38) 

For the first two years, I just had fun with it. I was running with friends and enjoying myself. This time round, I finally had a goal in mind.

When you ran the race, were you competitive or running against yourself? 

I was competitive in the sense that I was determined to beat my goal. I started out the race running with my friend Alex. When she stopped around mile 4 to get some Gatorade, I kept running.

I kicked in to gear and shot off like a rocket. I would then find a person in front of me and make it a goal to catch up to them. There was a man in a British flag shirt I tried to keep pace with since he was faster than me. So, I kept setting goals along the race route.

Were you pleased with the results from the race this year? 

I was extremely pleased considering it has been 8 years since I ran it last. I wish I had a better time, though.

Did you experience any problems during the race which caused you to change your plans? 

During the first two miles, everyone packs in like sardines. Since I was running with Alex, it was hard to navigate around people. We had trouble weaving and bobbing between crowds while still staying together. It slowed our pace. We started pointing at gaps in the crowd in which we would keep running towards the gap to keep up at a good pace.

How do you process when your results fall short of your expectations?

In training, there were days in which my results would fall short of my running goal that day. I had to dust myself off and attempt to do better the next time.

I would also try to change what I ate before my run or how I stretched. To prevent the water from sloshing around in my stomach, I experimented with the timing of when to drink it. 

Do you feel that running is emotional?

Running is emotional, but it is also so rewarding. If you have a rough day, it is a great way to get everything off your chest with a good run. You can get in the zone and let go.

There are other days when you are not in the running mood and really must push yourself. As a younger runner in high school, I was an emotional runner.  I would wear my heart on my sleeve during my races. Now I find it to be a sense of enjoyment and relief. A way to get away.

What is your WHY for staying with the sport?

Nothing is easy. I used to find running so easy and it came naturally to me. Now I really have to work at it. But it gives me such a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment. I take pride in a good run.

It keeps me fit and in shape. So, the bigger question is why not? Why have I not been running all of this time?

Why did I make so many excuses about letting my personal life get in the way when I should have been making more time for it?

What would you tell a younger Morgan about the CUCB?

I would tell her to continue to stick with the sport and re-register for the CUCB every year.  Do not produce excuses. Do not let life get in the way. Just do it. I will continue to re-register from now on. 

How did you feel about “Lucky 51”?

To put it simply, LUCKY. I showed up early to pick up my race bib and I saw a woman counting people in line. She pointed at me and said, “Fifty-one. Can you please come with me? When she pulled me out of line, I asked what was happening.

She let me know that since I was the 51st racer in line to pick up my race bib, I am now going to be the very first person in-line to receive my bib. She said, “It pays to show up early.” Stumpy, the mascot, surprised me by presenting me with my race bib.

Then someone accompanied me to pick up my shirt and handed me a CUCB poster. I also got to keep the “Lucky 51” sign. I wanted to make a shirt for a race day that said “Lucky 51” on it, but I ran out of time.

It’s a wonderful CUCB tradition and I feel so special to have been the “Lucky 51”.

The takeaway from Morgan is that it is okay to step back and return.

You set new goals and forget about what you used to do and focus on what you can do. Your health is your responsibility and not the doctor.

Next year, Morgan will up her game because she is consistent, insistent, and persistent.

*To read more stories like this, check out Off and Running with George Banker.