With the 2014 cross country season well underway we will continue with some outstanding under classmen especially the "Fabulous Freshmen" of whom many have already made a mark on Arizona running. Morgan Woodman was an outstanding freshman last year and continues to show great promise in the sport.
At the Ojo Rojo 2 weeks ago Morgan finished 4th in the Varsity race and PR'd by close to a minute from last year's Desert Twilight Meet (19:00.90) to this year's Desert Twilight Meet (18:03.97).
Keep checking back as we highlight more of Arizona's best. Good luck to everyone - see you on the course!!
Journal Questions:
Name: Morgan Woodman (Morgan's Milesplit Profile)
High School: Buena High School
Year of Graduation: 2017
Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:
5k: 18:03.97
When did you get started as a running:
Freshman year track seasonI started running in the 7th grade because I wanted to do another sport as I was on a travel softball team at the time. I decided to try out for the Cross Country and fell in love with the sport.
Which meets will you be running this year?
I will be running in a lot of the big Invitational’s. We are running in Ojo Rojo, Desert Twilight, Rattler, Sectionals, State, and I will be attending NXN Southwest Championships.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season? What do you look forward to the most?
My goal for the upcoming season is to break my record of 19:00 and get the time of 18:30 or better. I look forward to competing against the runners that have beaten me in the past to see where I stand, and also learn the science and strategies of racing.
How is your summer training going? Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?
My summer training went great! Over the summer we ran a lot of big base training miles. My all time favorite would have to be interval workouts like 400m repeats, 800m repeats and 1000m repeats.
I ran a lot of big mileage over the summer I would say I ran 35-60 per week. It was a great summer of running for me.
Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?
I do lift weights, usually lift every other day except the days that I have Wednesday meets or any huge meets - then I take it easy and do core and push-ups.
Do you follow any kind of nutrition program or watch what you eat?
I do watch what I eat, but occasionally I will have an unhealthy snack, but in moderation. I eat pasta 2 days before and the day before a meet to get the essential carbs to kee me fueled.
Have you ever been injured?
I fortunately have not been injured. I hope to keep it that way!
So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?
My favorite cross country race would have to be Sue Fletcher of my freshman year. I loved this race because
What is the best part of running?
The best part of running is the competition. I love competing against runners that are faster than me or have more experience because it pushes me to my potential and I can learn a whole bunch about their strategies of racing.
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
Desert Twilight is the running accomplishment that stands out the most to me because it is the course that I got my personal record and I love running at night.
When you are not running what do you like to do?
When I am not running I like to swim and generally do recreational sports that keep me outside.
How have your coaches influenced you overall?
My coaches have pushed me to excel in running. They push me to my uncomfortable zone, so that when it comes time to race i have already become accustomed to running like that, so I push harder to have a new uncomfortable zone.
Shout outs?
Jeanette Haliburton, University of Delaware Cross Country runner. She is a good friend and mentor. She exemplifies everything I see in the Cross Country community as it relates to kindness, character and most of all being a genuinely good person to all. I would also like to shout out to the Anasazi Training Camp for teaching me about dieting and racing tactics that will help me in the long run.
Quick 6:
Favorite Post-race Meal?
My favorite post race food is a peanut butter sandwich and a chewy chocolate dipped granola bar.
Kind of shoes you train in?
The kind of shoes I train in are Mizumos
Flat course or hills?
Both because I like flat courses, but hills are more fun because they are challenging.
Facebook or Twitter?
Hot or cold weather?
Hot Weather
Favorite song at the moment?
My favorite song at the moment would have to be Love Runs Out by One Republic