Meet the Utes: Megan Rose

Next up in our Meet the Utes series is Megan Rose. Rose is a new addition to the Utah track and field team for the 2021-2022 season. She is a freshman studying mathematics with an emphasis in statistics. 
 
Rose gravitated towards the University of Utah from her first meeting with the team. She said, "I had a gut feeling. I just knew that I was supposed to come here. I visited a couple of other schools and had tours, but I didn't really feel a super strong connection to them. Here, I really liked the team. I didn't really get the chance to meet them because we only had a zoom meeting together, but I really liked them, I liked the coach, and it just seemed like a really cool experience. I also really liked Salt Lake City and the mountains. It's a pretty place to be."
 
Just as she thought, Rose seems to have found her place running alongside her teammates. "It's so much fun. It's amazing. I really feel like I made the best decision. All my teammates are my best friends. We all push each other to be better, but we can also just laugh and have a good time and struggle through workouts together. I also really like my coach. I think she works really hard to create a good program for us and I have a lot of respect for her. The workouts are hard, definitely challenging but they're also really rewarding too."
 
During her time here, Rose has already set some goals for herself. "My number one goal is to have fun, because I feel like as long as I'm happy then that's all that I really need. However, I also want to PR and improve on my times from high school. I just want to get better and stronger every year."
 
Rose never anticipated running would take her where it has, "When I was younger, I definitely didn't think running could have gotten me where I am. However, in the past few years, it has definitely become a really big part of my life. I don't know yet what I'm going to do after track, but it's kind of crazy how it's opened me up to so many different opportunities, and the ability to meet so many people is great."
 
Rose seems to have also found her key to maintaining motivation. "I stay motivated by thinking about everything that I've done in the past like hard practices and tough moments mentally. I acknowledge that I've gotten stronger because of those times and I can just build off that strength. Another thing that motivates me are my teammates. Seeing their successes makes me want that for myself, too."
 
According to Rose, the best parts of competing happen before the race is about to begin. "The adrenaline that I get beforehand is my favorite, stepping up to the line and seeing everyone be in the moment. I just know that I'm capable of really great things and I acknowledge that I can do something that I've never done before."
 
The Women of Utah won't have to go very this weekend as it travels down I-15 to compete in the Robison Invitational.
 
MORE ABOUT MEGAN ROSE
Q: Where are you from?
A: Boise, ID
 
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Blue 
 
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have a cute Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix named Clare
 
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: 90 Day Fiance
 
Q: What is your favorite drink?
A: Water or coffee
 
Q: What song do you listen to before a race?
A: There's no one song I listen to every time before a race, but definitely upbeat music.
 
Q: What word best describes you?
A: Persistent  
 
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Sushi
 
Q: What is the last book you read?
A: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
 
Q: What do you wish you knew more about?
A:  I wish I knew more languages, I took 5 years of Spanish and still don't really know anything.
 
Q: What would be your ultimate vacation?
A: I would love to go to Japan
 
Q: What is your favorite thing about the University of Utah?
A: I love the people here and the beautiful mountains
 
Q: Who is your favorite musician?
A: Kacey Musgraves
 
Q: What is your dream car?
A: I don't think I have a dream car! I like my car now. It's a 2004 Lexus ES 330 and it gets me where I need to go (usually)
 
Q: What would be your dream job?
A: I saw once that you can be a professional ice cream taster and I think that sounds wonderful