Runner’s World+ Member: Morgan Olson
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Morgan is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print.
Running has helped me create a better relationship with food. I am in my 11th year of recovery from an eating disorder and the long hours I’ve spent running on trails gives me a lot of time to reflect and approach my thoughts and feelings from a different perspective. It has helped me look at food as fuel; as something I need. After my first summer of training, I’ve become much more comfortable with myself. I have more confidence, more strength. I am mentally healthier. I believe running has helped put my eating disorder farther behind me.
I run because now that I am a mom it is my time. My daughter may join me in the stroller, but it is still the one thing I do for me. Running is my constant. It got me through my husband’s time away for work training, our first deployment, my pregnancy, the pandemic, and now our second deployment. Running is the one thing I know will always be there. I like to think my daughter will be inspired by my running and also exercise for self-care when she is older. Of course, like most people I run to be faster, to go farther—but in the big picture, I run for my daughter.
My most favorite route is in Fayetteville, NC. The Smith Lake Trail and the All American Trail. When I used to run here, I was often the only one on the trail so it was easy to get lost in my own thoughts, and lost on the trail. I loved being surrounded by tall trees and grass. I enjoyed not seeing signs of civilization. Just out in nature taking in the clean air. These trails are also where I spent most of my time training for my first 50 mile race.
It’s a tough choice. I love my Garmin Fenix 6S Pro, and I love my Bob Gear Stroller. I never run without my watch, and about 95% of my runs are stroller runs.
[This is the piece of gear you love. The one you are obsessed with. It could be shoes, or it could be that one running t-shirt you got at your first 5K.]
I’ve peed on the side of so many trails, it’s almost second nature. I have mastered the skill of finding just the right place for hiding behind a bush.
To keep running literally as long as possible. I want to be that 80-year-old grandma who may be slow as a snail but is still out there gettin’ it!
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