Questions to my Former self w/ Tyler Morris (Weston) Div 3 All American (Colby) @colby_tf_xc

I started the Questions to my former self series for the importance of the future generation and the audience to learn about Self reflection. For the last four years I watched this young man, worked diligently to improve his running mechanics. You can't teach relentless, you can't purchase courage. A student of the sport he would do what all us track junkies do and ask the "RIGHT" questions to learn more about the nuances in the racing. Besides training hard, "My main man" Tyler Morris a member of the Weston High School XC & Track & Field Class of 2019. Tyler has now taken his talents to Colby College and as freshmen was a Div 3 All-American in XC

Info: 

First & Last name: Tyler Morris

Social Media 

Instagram: tyler_morris7

Twitter: NA

Facebook: Tyler Morris

Age 19 

HS Graduated & year graduated 

Weston High School, 2019

College: Colby College

Events: Distance

Cross Country

1 Mile

2 Mile

3K Pending

5K Pending

10K Pending

PR’s

High School:

1 Mile: 4:30

2 Mile: 9:38

College:

XC 8K: 24:55

DATG: When did you start running?

Tyler Morris: I started running in sixth grade because our soccer coach forced us to get in shape. I was the slowest one on the team by far but by the end of the season I ended up becoming the fastest one on the roster. Spring of 7th grade is when I met and started working with Weston High coaches John Monz and Kathleen Vinciullo.

DATG: What was the race or the moment in your career you realized that you could be pretty good at the sport of running?

Tyler Morris:The moment I realized there was some true potential was at the Wayland XC Invite in 8th grade. It was my first club and highly competitive cross country race ever. My father and I laugh to this day because when we arrived at the meet he said to me "I can't wait for you to get beat". He was so excited that I was participating in such a highly competitive field. He and my mom were even more excited after I went on to win the race and set a course record. Following that my young self realized that I really had a bright future in running and continued training with Monz and Vinciullo.

DATG: Is there a pre-race meal ?

Tyler Morris: A go to Cereal ? Always love this question because I am your stereotypical distance runner. Pasta with a little protein the night before each meet and morning of a bagel and a banana.

DATG: Weston XC/TF is part of the Dual County League, arguably one of the toughest leagues here in Ma$$, How was it to be trained and coached under legendary Coach Monz?

Tyler Morris: Coach Monz is truly an incredible coach and an even better person. I consider myself so lucky to be able to call him my coach and mentor. I would not be where I am today without Monz and all our other coaches at Weston. As you said Monz truly is a legend he has been at Weston for over 40 years and has molded both Weston and MA track into what it is today. I am so lucky to have been a part of such a great team there are so many people on that team that I miss and it was truly the highlight of my high school experience.

DATG: What was considering the Low during your running career in HS and how did you bounce back from adversity ?

Tyler Morris: The low in my running career was facing an injury going into junior year. I know now it was muscle compensation and lack of glute activation but it took far to long to combat this. At one point going into my Junior year I thought I may never run again, but I kept fighting. There were plenty of inconsistent races, which were incredibly frustrating for myself and Monz but he was always there for me. I will forever be thankful to my mom for finding me the right physical therapy team that brought me back from this major setback. I want to say a major thank you to Nicole Downin, Doctor Andrew Fiola, and Katie Adams for keeping me healthy and helping me bounce back from the lowest point in my running career.

DATG: Wow times flies, I can't believe you are in college, how is that going? How is the dorm life?

Tyler Morris: I absolutely love Colby I have some truly incredible friends and classes have been great. Major shoutout to my Colby family (Katherine Brown, Robbie Graham, Nick Peterson, and Lila Saligman) thank you for making my adjustment to Colby so special. Additionally, the cross country/track team is so close here and I again I feel so lucky to be a part of such a great group of people. My coach Jared Beers is a pure genius when it comes to muscle activation and writing training plans for each individual runner. The entire Colby team loves him and we are all so thankful.

DATG: You have an amazing story i really wanted to share it thanks for participating. When we first met it was three summers at the bostonxc.com day camp with Coach Broe. Why did you feel it was imperative to attend BXC ? I had known Coach Broe for a short time before BXC. He was always talking about getting a training camp together and once he started Boston XC I was super excited to be a part of it. I really wanted to train with a group of people during those lonely summer months and BXC was perfect. I met some truly incredible people at BXC and I am so happy to see so many Weston runners continuing to run at BXC.

DATG: I am so proud of you i remember watching the NCAA Div 3 XC Championship meet, I saw a silhouette of a runner who had similar running mechanics, getting out with a good charge with the leaders, I said to myself is that " My Main" Tyler Morris and sure enough it was. Please share the audience the feeling of finishing your XC freshmen year as an All-American ?

Tyler Morris: It is an incredible feeling, I am amazed by how much I have improved in such a short amount of time. It is a huge testament to Jared Beers and the Colby Cross team. I am so thankful for my training partners Eli Decker and Ewan Frick. Both Eli and Ewan pushed me to new limits I didn't know I could achieve. Eli, a Concord Carlisle Alumni took me under his wing this past summer and I was so lucky to be able to race side by side with him each meet. At nationals, we finished one place apart and it was an incredible feeling being able to share that success with him. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

DATG: What's next for Tyler Morris only a freshmen at Colby College, what's your short term and long term goals ?

Tyler Morris: My main goal is to continue training and racing with Eli and Ewan and see where it takes us because it has certainly been working thus far. We are hoping to put our top 6 cross country runners under 15 minutes in the 5K this track season. All of which will be returning next fall.

DATG: Your off to an amazing Collegiate career, I know you work hard, did you ever think All-American? Why Colby College?

Tyler Morris: When I started training this past summer my main goal was to make the top 7 on the Colby roster. So to answer your question no All-American never even crossed my mind. But being pushed by Eli and placing very well all season long by the end of the season All-American was the goal for both Eli and myself. I picked Colby because I wanted to go to a small liberal arts school that I could run for and pursue a degree in economics. Additionally, Monz recommended that I also consider picturing myself running for a coach for the next four years. When I met Coach Jared Beers and walked around Colby's campus with him I knew this was the place and the person that I would want study and run for the next four years.

DATG: What would you tell the Tyler Morris who was a freshmen at Weston ? What would you tell him about your journey ?

Tyler Morris: I would tell my freshman self that running definitely has some hurdles but the process is so rewarding. The hard times make the good ones taste so much sweeter that is something Coach Vinciullo and Coach Montrose of Weston both taught me well. The biggest thing I would tell my freshman self that if you truly love something then you will fight for it no matter how much it may hurt. That is the biggest lesson I learned in high school and I am stronger because of it.

A major thank you, Coach H, it has been an absolute privilege getting to know you these last few years and I feel honored to be mentioned here. Please continue to be yourself because you have helped and influenced so many great runners. I

DATG: I cannot accept the compliment but I will say Iron sharpens Iron.. Thank you for believing in Me

Previously on DATG: Questions to my former self w/ Rishab Prakash

Previously on DATG: Questions to my former self w/ Aaron Lucci

Previously on DATG: Questions to my former self/ Catarina Rocha

BPSXC x Martha Vineyard HS Invitational Recap/Results 2018

After an amazing summer of captain practices, as well as attending the Bostonxc with Coach Tim Broe and Foss Running Camp week 2 (August 19th-26th). The Student Athlete's and I believed that we have a chance to be the first City team in over 30 Years to qualify for All States. Over the last three decades BPS has produced amazing front runners but never a team of five to seven Student Athletes that had a top four finish at the Emass Divisional Meet.. After this past weekend we are proud to share that #DreamsAreTangibleGoals we are getting closer to the Goal. #BPSvsHistory

Amazing performance every runner ran a personal best. We lost by 8 points to Woburn HS boys team, salute to Coach Fletcher #TannerPride. Two years ago we attended the ninth Annual Martha's Vineyard Invitational, we entered in the JV division and ran decent. 

First we shall start with Cristian Novelle-Ruddy, young brother of two year Captain Gustavo Novelle-Ruddy who is a freshman at Regis College. Cristian started his career off, running his first 5k in 20:14 and placed 19th Overall earning him a medal in the JV race. 

First time since the inception of the City Wide XC team, we had Five Boys under 18 Mins.
Boys Varsity Results: Click Here 

16th Place Overall: Adnan Abdi Rahman 17:17 27 sec PR 
25th Gemsley Cajuste 17:32.02 first 5k ever 
26th Victor Baez Jr. 17:36.10 7 secs PR 
31st Johan Sepulveda 17:53 first 5k Ever
32nd Douglas Alvarado 17:54 71 sec improvement
46th Ezra Taub 18:25 first 5k ever
48th Joshua Joseph 18:27 first 5k ever

via CityofBostonCrossCountry

Boston College Reservoir | Fire & Ice

Tempted to running little faster, quickly reminded to take my time, I am locked in and dreaming closing in on the most miles ran in 20 years. I can't think not about my health, my diet the goal is to be injury free before October 1st. This is the second week since Coach Average BROE has had the campers for the Boston XC Camp meet at the  Boston College Reservoir. The Chestnut Hill reservoir another name for the 1.55 loop located right next to Cassidy Playground in Coolidge Corner, where Boston, Brookline and Newton town lines meet. 

First warmup and mile into the run I finally started getting some decent pace and felt like I was following the workout as planned. At this stage of my progression I am discovering and trusting the art of pacing, learning how to cruise at steady pace, while focusing on my diaphragm as well as my glutes. 

Not only was today was a good workout for everyone in attendance the "Illumanti" got paid. The Illumanti is the name of group of boys on the Boston Pubic Schools City Wide XC Cross Country Team who are very good friends.  First pay check of the summer, i knew there was going to be some binging going down because this kids have "disposable" income. I suggest we celebrate like Adults and young adults and take the festivities to Fire & Ice Interactive Grill & Bar.

Fire & Ice was a good time, full of laughs and good foods. Victor Baez Jr, a junior at Charlestown High School member of the team says " A twenty Dollar well spent". I couldn't agree, more. My wife (Petruvna) met me at the restaurant and missed the first wave of destruction as the boys created the greatest Bacon & Cheeseburger. This experience is a memorable one, team bonding with my guys outside of running and training is special. Looking forward to more outings such as this one, for Petruvna and I Fire & Ice always provides us with that nostalgic feeling. I am confident that my squad will keep the tradition going. 

Webisode 4 | BXC Day Camp

Uploaded by Dreams are Tangible goals on 2017-07-26.

Consistency is the key. The more i stretch the more addictive it gets. My body felt like an elastic band after the runs, my lower toso starting to tighten up. To avoid the injuries don't want to sound redundant but foam rolling, dynamic drills, Intrinsic calve raises have made this go around more fruitful. I am feeling more confident and I have to always remember take it "One day at a time". No pace built in the workout going of feel and cruise control 

Heartbreak Hill & Aleve Pain

I didn't want to speak to soon, but muscle spasms got the best of me. Felt good running, don't really press accept on the downhill. I was just raving to my student athlete's about how I am feeling confident and I hadn't gotten hurt.  I don't want to blame the weather i'll take full responsibility I didn't stretch or foam roll post run, the original plan was to do that when I get home, i just showered and ate when i arrived home. In the middle of the night I was tossing and turning because of the tightness in my lower back and hip. Flexibility and range of motion are in essence the key to proper running mechanics but you can't forget about the tedious stuff, foam roller, yoga for breathing and stretching. 

I decided to get up around 4:30am and do some yoga before I went to work, start doing my Sun Salutation routine and decided to skip and got towards static stretching attempting to touch my toes without a proper warmup my back and body tensed up with a knot in my lower back. Thank God my wife was sleeping in the next room, after I yelled out for her name, she came and gave me some Aleve Pain medication and rubbed Bengay on my lower back. Friendly reminder lesson learned, must respect the process, the tedious stuff matter especially if you haven't ran competitively in 20 years. Back to the grind, have a recovery run of 30 Minutes on the agenda. 

Chestnut Hill Reservoir x 18 Trophies

Starting the morning by Foam Rolling, Sun Salutations and basically some static stretches, including some elastic band work. Today run was inspiring and motivating, this past workout on Monday my Ankles were throbbing and I was sweating bullets. I was ready to call it quits, was talking myself out of the Oct 1st, goal of the Half Marathon. I had many thoughts going through my head, some as "Why are you even doing this", "You've lost it all it's easier to go back to Steak N Cheese", "Oh really for what ?There is no glory in this". 

I was proved wrong there is all the glory in the world to be healthy for my wife, to be healthy for my future unborn children. Especially the day after you wake up and your back is stiff this is where the foam rolling and pilates come into effect. Yoga matt purchases is becoming clutch in moments like this, when the body was hibernating for 20 years. 

Today run was a huge confidence booster because I wasn't hard headed this time around, I see immediate results from Monday to Friday all because of the smaller tedious things i did. The small things do count. If you don't have one invest in a foam roller, cheapest and best massage you'll ever pay for. Also purchase a yoga matt to tackle those Yoga poses that are essential for core strength. 

The old School vs New School I am embracing running different this time around, I have new approach, mixing the old school training method of feel and applying today's science and looking at my BPM (Beat Per Minutes) x SPM (Stride Per Minutes). I couldn't help but notice on Strava and my garmin account today was a record setting day, clearly one of my best runs in two decades. 

4 x 400 x 2 Miles (CORE)

Started the morning right with some Yoga and stretching. I must say this is the best feeling, I am waking up sore still from Monday's workout and the recovery run from Tuesday. I learned a valuable lessons on Monday. First lesson you are extremely out of shape, second lesson I have been stubborn and hardheaded, I always get hurt because I don't respect the process. I haven't ran in 20 years, it's going to take some time to get it back. Third Lesson is more than a reminder how close I am to the age of 40. 

Yoga/Pilates and stretching have been saving me these mornings. I see how people get injured, foam roller x yoga have been my best friends, the soreness and tenderness has gotten way better and I am actually looking forward to running, once again I can't thank enough the running community and most important my wife on this long journey back to no man's land. 

Dennis Sheppard said last week he enjoys running again, i agree that speaks to the soul. I am starting to get acquainted with concept of running and most important what type of runner do I want to be. In this begin stage of base building there is no character no special unique talent, all that is required is dedication, determination and discipline 

Today's workout was 4 tempo 400 meters x 2 miles x Core workouts 

1st 400 2:25

2nd 400 2:20

3rd 400 2:19

4th 400 2:10 

Just the feeling of completing this workout was motivation and confidence booster, then Erin Flynn instructed the Core workout. 

Ankles Throbbing & Sweating Bullets = Priceless Reward #DreamsAreTangibleGoals

I have been paying for this domain but i haven't been utilizing it. Similar to my legs and my cardiovascular system. At 38 years old starring at 40 years old, it's tough to get started. I have to thank my student athlete's who inspire me daily, my wife for her continue support and the homies Coach Dennis Sheppard of Marshfield High School and my Assistant Coach Steve Gentassio for getting me running. 

I created this blog many moons ago to track my progress towards completing two bucket list goals of completing a Half & Full Marathon. Let me tell you something that's some wishful thinking but in fact it became reality. The harsh truth accepting the condition and how out of shape I truly am.  Today i decided to join in a workout with Tim Broe & Erin Flynn from BostonXC Summer Session. The workout was working on tempo and pacing. I ran 6 x 400, man listen and 3 Hill Sprints at the end, i couldn't even do the cool down. 

I am looking forward to being consistency and growing into become a runner.  On the way home from my workout i checked in with my lady and she gave me some wonderful news, her little brother's girlfriend delivered the newest addition to the family tree. After icing my knees i indulged in dinner. 

DietfortheDay:

Breakast: Two Bowls of Honey Bunches of Oats Almonds 

Lunch: Egg Salad sandwich 

Pre-workout: Banana

Post Workout: Gatorade Protein Bar Chocolate

Dinner: Brocoli, Corn & Chicken