Name: Phil “Moose” Morris
Age: 44
Occupation: Shift Manager at a 9-1-1 Dispatch Center
Hometown: Columbiana, Alabama
Family: Married to Charity for 24 years, with two teenage children (Wally, 19 and Molly, 16)
Why did you start running?
After many years of hearing “our family just has bad genes” and living up to that expectation, I decided something had to change. High blood pressure from the age of 18 and difficulty breathing while walking began taking their toll.
Two friends from church who are marathon distance runners, Tim Taylor and Michael Hale, gave me the motivation to change. Through many discussions and their encouragement, I took that critical first step and began walking and later, running.
What was running like in the beginning?
Terrible. I quit several times over the first few months. I actually didn’t tell anyone I was walking for fitness. Eventually, I downloaded the MapMyRun app and started recording my walks. I started at a slow 30 minute mile pace. Then, this Spring I bought a Fitbit, which coordinates with the app and helps keep me moving.
What are your favorite things about being a runner?
Spending most of your life as the big guy equals tough times. The decision to change was liberating. I love being on the road at sunrise knowing change is possible to the willing. A humbling slow walk with a stick is not really a secret you want people to know until you no longer need the stick. Little milestones were a huge deal, like walking a sub-20 minute mile, jogging to the closest mailbox, up a ½ mile to my distance, and so on. Those hard times ended up being highly rewarding. My first 5k with my family, Finish on the Fifty in Auburn, and recently, the 9 mile Hotter ‘n Hell at Oak Mountain were amazing experiences. The Triple Crown series with the BTC is on my list of current goals.
How do you believe running has benefited your health?
Happiness crept back into my demeanor, or so my family says. My family enjoys my company again. Losing 116 pounds to date is another list topper. My blood pressure is beginning to regulate, and my breathing troubles have subsided. My diet has changed for the better, too – I have replaced red meat with chicken and fish (except for 1-2 times a month), and I make sure to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Having the courage to continually persevere carries me onward in life and in running. The start of the longest journey begins the same as the shortest; the first step. "When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble." Proverbs 4:12
The “#Why I Run” series focuses on the different reasons that drive us to run. We want to know why YOU run. Health, charity, awareness, friendship? Email Kristen Osborne at kosborne@ggh-law.com, or tweet your comments to @bhamtrackclub using the hashtag #WhyIRun to tell YOUR story. We’ll select runners to be featured each month in The Vulcan Runner or online. Kristen is an attorney and home fitness coach from Cahaba Heights.