Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Today, I have the great honor of introducing you to elite runner Megan Malasarte who is sharing a sneak peek into her running, life and everything in between as she prepares for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials next month in Eugene, Oregon.

I am going to the Olympic track trials with my Brooks Running family in July, and I cannot wait to meet Megan in person and see her in action. Megan is a member of the Brooks Beasts Track Club. She was a 6-time high school state champion in the 400 and 800 meters and is the indoor and outdoor record holder in the 800 meters at the University of Georgia. Her running journey and success has only just begun, so hold onto your seats. Friends, meet Megan Malasarte …

When did you start running and what inspired you to start?
I started running in eighth grade because one of my best guy friends (shout out to Udare Santha!) convinced me to give sports a chance since I devoted the last nine years to dancing. My most vivid memory from middle school track is making it to the championship meet for the relay, long jump and 400-meter dash, doing well enough to win ribbons in each event and thinking to myself, “Well, this is kind of fun!” My feelings toward running didn’t really develop until high school.

As an elite 800-meter runner for the Brooks Beasts Track Club, tell us what an average training week looks like for you. How many miles do you put in and what do your days consist of?
We officially meet five out of the seven days of the week, and a normal week goes as follows: Mondays consist of an easy run with technical drills, a core routine and short hill sprints. Tuesdays and Fridays are our primary workout days where we’ll do a hard track or tempo session followed by a lift later in the day. Wednesdays and Saturdays are our recovery days where we don’t meet but get in an easy run. To wrap the week up, Sundays are long run days. A full training week gets me to about 40 miles.

You hold the 800-meter indoor and outdoor records at the University of Georgia. What is your fondest memory of your time running at UGA?
I loved getting to represent that red and black for four years. My fondest running memory at UGA was probably my freshman year when we hosted SECs. It was such an incredible experience to be a part of since we hadn’t hosted a conference meet in years, and my closest friends and family were able to attend!

If you weren’t a professional runner, what other career do you think you would choose?
If I weren’t a professional runner, I could see myself working for a company like Brooks in the marketing or sales department. That’s still something I haven’t quite figured out just yet, but I’m hoping I have some time to decide since I’d love to be a runner for as long as I can.

Do you have a mantra or favorite saying you use to stay motivated and pushing during the hard moments of a training run or race?
Short mantras are my favorite! Sometimes during workouts I have to tell myself simple mantras like, “Keep pushing,” “Don’t give up” and “Stay strong.” When it comes to races, I commit to one to two words to envision before the race like, “Fearless,” “Be tough,” “Commit” or “Finish fast.” Those are a few that come to mind, but sometimes it just depends on the race and end goal.

What song pumps you up the most before a big race?
Lately, I’ve been listening to Beyonce’s ‘Formation’ before races. I just don’t think it’s possible for me to get tired of that song! Bey can do no wrong.

What’s your favorite post-race splurge meal?
My favorite post-race splurge meal is definitely a hearty burger, fries and a beer. Does that not sound amazing?!

Do you have any interest in running a marathon at some point? If so, any thoughts on which race you’d like to run?
The interest isn’t high to run a marathon, but I’d say it’s there. I think I’m going to come up with a post-professional running bucket list of activities and races to participate in, which will include a half marathon, marathon, Spartan Race or Tough Mudder, just to name a few.

I hear you’re into fashion. How do you stay stylish on the track? What are your favorite clothing brands off the track?
You heard right! I’m a fan of bold prints and bright colors, so I try to stay stylish on the track by combining either a printed Brooks bottom with a bright solid colored top or vice versa. It also helps when my training shoes (the Brooks Launch 3s in mint green) match my running watch. Some of my favorite non-running clothing brands are Lucky Brand, H&M and Anthropologie.

What is your next big running goal you’d like to accomplish this year?
Break 2-minutes in the 800 meters and make the Olympic Team!

You can keep tabs on Megan and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you to Brooks Running for introducing me to Megan through my partnership as a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador.

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Do you know someone with an inspiring story that should be featured on Friday FITspiration? If so, email runladylike@gmail.com.

What inspires you most about Megan Malasarte’s journey? What is your favorite track and field event to run or watch?