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Inspiring Hope...

Thursday, 01 October 2015 00:10

By Angie Howell (inheritance ofhope.org)

On October 10th, professional triathlete and Inheritance of Hope supporter Ruth Brennan Morrey, Ph.D., will compete in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. Only 35 women worldwide have qualified to compete in the professional category, and Ruth is one of just nine Americans. Due to her years of training, Ruth has a unique perspective on resilience, perseverance, and faith. She also turns 40 years old on race day!
 
Ruth served as a counselor on the Inheritance of Hope (IoH) NYC Legacy Retreat® in November 2014, and she is raising money for IoH as part of her desire to give back...

through her triathlon experience. Ruth has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a focus in health psychology, thus she brings a strong skill set to her involvement with IoH. Here, we ask Ruth a few questions about her upcoming race and her thoughts on how her experiences relate to IoH and life at large.
 
Q: You have mentioned that you focus on a pre-selected scripture on race day. Tell us more about that.
 
A: Each race holds its own unique mental and physical challenges. While the foundation of my mindset and preparation is similar, the details and nuances are different. Any challenge we have in life or training has its solutions in scripture, and I try to find a verse that is applicable to me for the particular race or difficulty I might anticipate. I write the verse on the back of my hand or put a piece of tape on my bike as a constant reminder of personal strength and clarity during the race. It reminds me about honoring God by giving it my best and getting through dark moments. Quite honestly, I don't know how I could get through training, races, or life without this grounding. READ MORE