For varsity athletes, spring break means one thing: training trips. Since we are looking to beat varsity athletes, Austin and I figured we should go on training trips of our own. With teammwork taken care of, we struck out on our own paths to prepare physically, mentally and, most importantly, emotionally for the upcoming spring (which won’t likely arrive until Derby or Green Key, unless College President Phil Hanlon sold his soul for a sunny Dimensions weekend).
I headed to South Florida. The whole training trip mentality was new to me, but I figured I could jump into it. My goal was twofold; get tan and get fit. I had dreams of running miles every day outside, eating healthy and recovering each day by the pool.
I exceeded expectations in the “recovery” period and succeeded in building my tan, which I’m sure will evaporate on contact with Hanover temperatures. But, the Vitamin D and sunlight felt amazing.
In terms of running, I probably deserve a gentleman’s C. I planned on logging miles every day but generally ran only one. Who knew how hard it would be to run in 85 degree weather? Also, the last time I ran outside was ... a long time ago, and pavement hurts your whole body, even if you don’t fall. Outside of running, my workouts consisted of schooling some kids on the black top (I only had about 15 years on them and 2 feet of height).
As far as eating goes, the tropical drinks caused more problems that the food (I mean, seafood is healthy no matter what, right?). One, called the “bucket of fun,” didn’t help. I did eat a protein bar, though, so that’s something!
Well, that was pretty much my training trip, and sadly now we’re to the cold and gray New Hampshire “spring.”
Austin assures me that his spring break was equally eventful. Instead of pursuing the senior year spring break shenanigans, he traveled back to the Bluegrass state to study the art of bracketology. He put in the hours. For once in his Dartmouth career, he really did his homework. Then he picked pretty much by seed and is currently losing to his mother in his family’s pool. Ohio State University over University of Florida for the Final Four? Fat chance.
When I prodded him about his usually exceptionally mediocre cardio routine, he said he did a lot of carbohydrate loading ... but that was pretty much it. Which is supposed to precede some draining physical activity. So unless you count hanging out at his sister’s house downtown by the bars for three days and not waking up in time for the McDonald’s breakfast menu as physical activity, it appears that he missed a step.
His one physical highlight — which he said counted because it involved traveling some distance and receiving a T-shirt at the finish line — was what the Louisville, Ky., travel authority calls the Urban Bourbon Trail. Participants go to bars around the city and drink bourbon that you couldn’t usually afford unless Mom and Dad foot the bill. His only comment on the outing was “making mom the designated driver probably inspired the comeback performance in the bracket.” The tournament isn’t over yet, buddy. You might be able to keep your dignity.
We’ll call these successful training trips. Sure, things didn’t pan out quite as we would have liked when the option to sleep in and eat food other than FoCo fare appeared. We are only human. What did you expect?
But, loyal readers, we are here to promise you big things for our senior spring. As you would expect from two seniors, we are completely and totally dedicated to the work we have before us. We will pursue excellence in our fields and pass both on the field and in the classroom. Our family members have emphasized that if we don’t graduate they’ll lose their deposit on the bed and breakfast they booked for graduation. This term, we will get our time in at the Lev (right after Ultimate Frisbee at 3:30 a.m.), eat sort of right and dedicate ourselves to the highest standards of degeneracy before we fade into the Dartmouth history books.
