FAIRFAX, Va. – GoMason.com chatted with freshman runner Meghan Blackstone in this edition of Off the Course. Blackstone finished fourth overall at the Mason Invitational earlier in the season and was recently the top freshman female finisher for Mason at the Atlantic 10 Championships in Mechanicsville, Va. on Saturday, finishing 49th overall out of 111 runners in a 5k time of 18:30.6.
GoMason.com: Who has been your inspiration for running?
Blackstone: The person I look up to the most is my dad. He has overcome many obstacles and he effortlessly juggles work, all of us kids (carpooling my brothers to and from soccer practices, basketball practices, etc), coaches a u10 boys soccer team, and many other things, and he still finds time to run every day. My dad is my role model.
GoMason.com: What kind of activities do you do in the offseason to keep in shape?
Blackstone: In the offseason I love swimming and Pilates. Both help me build a stronger core which helps a lot with running.
GoMason.com: How do you spend your free time?
Blackstone: In my free time I love to bake, paint, tye-dye, and play outside with my younger brothers.
GoMason.com: What are your aspirations for when you graduate college and do you have a dream job?
Blackstone: When I graduate I would love to eventually become a physical therapist. It has been my dream since high school to be able to help injured athletes return to the sport they love as quickly as possible.
Favorites include:
Food - Brownie batter, ice cream, and this awesome sweet potato casserole my mom makes on Thanksgiving.
Quote - “We have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change the past…we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable… life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.” –Chuck Swindol
Song - Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney
Sport other than cross country - Soccer! I played for 9 years before I committed 100% to Cross Country and Track.
