Athlete spotlight: SU cross country runner Nicole Legare
Posted: November 20, 2012
Shenandoah University 18-year-old freshman
Sport: Cross Country
Position: Alternating between No. 5 and No. 6
Hometown: Berryville
Parents: Vince and Tracy Legare
High School: Clarke County (Class of 2012)
Major: Biology with a Pre-Physical Therapy concentration
When did you start running cross country: I started my junior year of high school. My sister (Amy Legare) wanted to run and I realized that my mom used to run [in high school and in college], so we talked about it and I wasn’t really good at any contact sports, so I decided to try running.
What you love about cross country: I like that it’s a team sport but it’s also about how I do. You can really feel the difference in your training.
Sport you always wanted to try: I’d try gymnastics. It’s just so cool all the things that they can do with their bodies, it blows my mind. It’d be cool if I could do that.
Biggest strength and weakness in cross country: My weakness would be on a long-distance run I don’t have that kick at the end. I’m usually just holding my breath and hoping nobody passes me. And my strength I guess would be when I set a goal for a time in a workout, I do everything I can to hit that time.
Most memorable moment in cross country: Probably with my high school team. Nobody thought we’d make it to states and we ended competing at states as a whole team. That was my junior year, so my first year running we made it to states and it was just a really cool experience.
Most embarrassing moment in cross country: Probably falling at the Salsbury Meet (Md.) in my second meet at Shenandoah and just tons of girls passed me and I couldn’t catch up to them. I tripped over a stump which was pretty embarrassing.
Favorite athlete: (USA Olympic gold medal gymnast) Gabby Douglas. Nobody expected her to do anything and she ended up winning the (all-around) title so she had that underdog thing that I liked about her.
Favorite sports team: Washington Redskins
Three people you can have dinner with dead or alive: (Actor) Ryan Reynolds because he’s good looking. (Actor) Adam Sandler because he’ss really funny and then (singer) Beyonce because she’ss really talented.
Favorite Quote: “Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.” — Tim Duncan
Favorite Subject: I’m not taking it until next semester but I’d have to say Psychology. The mind is a cool thing to learn about.
What’s on your iPod: I listen to country and rap and hip hop, just a lot of upbeat music I guess. I’ve been listening to Taylor Swift a lot lately so she’s one of my favorites.
Prerace routine/ritual: At one of our first meets we found this deer antler while we were walking the course, so before each meet after that everyone has to rub the antler for good luck. It’s kind of random.
Plans after college: I want to be a physical therapist and have my own practice. I’d love to live in North Carolina because it’s really pretty there. And I want to beat my mom’s 5:30 mile, that’s my goal.
— Compiled by Kevin Trudgeon