X-Men track and field/cross country runner Stephen Deering is the latest athlete featured in our Getting to Know your X-Women and X-Men series throughout the summer. Stephen recently completed his third year with the X-Men and is a Science student from Antigonish, NS.
What brought you to StFX?
Well I grew up in Antigonish so the university has always been around throughout my whole life. When I graduated from high school and it came time to choose schools I looked at a couple other options but I never really wanted to go anywhere but X.
What has been your best moment in a StFX uniform so far?
I'd have to say it was crossing the finish line at the 2012 CIS championships in Sherbrooke. I had struggled with injury problems and anemia all summer and a large chunk of the season, just barely earning my place on the start line after only being able to watch my first year. Despite that I went on to have the best race of my life in the most important race of my life. The weather was horrible for a race, below zero with blowing snow and the whole course was icy hills, but I remember just being so happy and tired after the race that I just sat in the slush grinning like an idiot.
One thing I cannot live without is…?
My iPod, I've got headphones in pretty much all the time. I lose my phone constantly but I always know where my iPod is at.
If I could have super-hero powers I would…?
Be able to know where any object in the world is. I'd never lose anything again.
My biggest pet peeve is…?
Can being sick be a pet peeve? If so I'll pick that. I have the worst immune system ever and it drives me nuts.
My dream vacation destination is…?
Oh man, there are just too many places I'd love to go. I'd love to just travel overseas for a long time with no real plans, just backpacking and experiencing different cultures. That'd be great whether it was in Europe or Asia or Africa.
My dream job is…?
Olympic Athlete. But if I'm being realistic I'd love to work either in medicine or help run a charity I think. You'd think I'd know better after 3 years in university.
Tell us one thing that fans may not know about you?
I only starting seriously running in my final year of high school, before that it was always just conditioning for soccer season. When my high school coach first said I could possibly run at a University level I thought he was crazy.
FAVORITES:
1. Past-time/hobby: I play way too many video games
2. Food: Homemade Ribs
3. Website: The Hype Machine (hypem.com)
4. TV show: Arrested Development
5. Movie: Good Will Hunting or Inglorious Basterds. Two pretty different movies
6. Actor/Actress: Christoph Waltz
7. Singer/Band: The National, Local Natives, The Antlers, The Strokes, Kanye West, Arcade Fire, The Weeknd. No way I could just pick one.
8. Sport (other than your own): Soccer to play, Hockey to watch
9. Pro sports team: Toronto Ottawa Senators
10. Pro sports athlete: Galen Rupp