It should go without saying that this fall was a particularly interesting term, for a number of reasons. Fall is usually a pretty hectic time for our team, between welcoming a class of new members and organizing many fun activities (some tri-related, others not as much) for our members to enjoy throughout the term we tend to have more than enough on our hands. This fall presented its own share of challenges, since we still cannot meet in large enough numbers to do any of our team activities due to COVID-19, and races have been cancelled across the country. We've managed to adapt though, turning our practices into outdoor runs or rides, weekly Zoom strength sessions, and virtual events to be able to keep in touch with each other. We still haven't lost sight of team traditions, however. While we would have liked to hold our annual team flair breakfast this year, we kept with the tradition of taking some time to think about our goals for the year, both as triathletes and as students. See below for some of our members' goals:
Athletic Goals
- Get back into shape (ride/run 3+ times/week)
- Run a 50mi Ultra
- Become more comfortable cycling and go on a 40 mile ride
- Complete a triathlon!
- Run my first half marathon and bike a century!
- Get more confident on a bike (that is, if I can get on a bike again this year)!
- Run a half marathon!
- Keep myself motivated and fit even when I can't race or practice with the team as much
- I really want to run my first marathon this year!
- I want to gain more flexibility in my hamstrings and do more overall strength.
- Getting strong enough to run a marathon in 2021
- Learn how to preemptively cope with shin splints better!
- To re-establish routine and reach pre-COVID levels of fitness.
- Get outside for cold winter runs
- Improving swimming leg of tri: speed, endurance, and open water sighting
- Complete my first Ironman 70.3!
Life Goals
- Rediscover a sense of confidence in online learning and focus on getting assignments done in a more timely manner
- Finish characterizing a conserved epitope on Influenza B
- Get outside my academic comfort zone
- Take classes that I enjoy!
- Just want to enjoy learning and getting a Dartmouth education!
- Get as much out of Zoom classes as I can and also finish all my distributive requirements!
- Get an A
- Graduate! Honestly, I think that is a good enough goal for COVID times.
- I would like to learn to like Engineering more
- I want to finish my thesis!
- Staying consistent with running and strength training
- Find value in each term despite the limitations and challenges posed by a virtual education
- To learn how to write essays in a college setting!
- Get to know the '24s on tri team!
- Gain a greater sense of what I want to study (ie. decide on major)
- Get A's or A-'s in all of my classes
With fall classes coming to a close and the winter term (whatever it may look like) fast approaching, many of us are experiencing a complete change in our Dartmouth experience – whether this be a change in our surroundings, who we see everyday, or just in our routine. Still, we enjoy hearing our members' various goals and how they plan to make the most of the year, and look forward to doing as much as we can as a team!
SBR,
The 20F Triathlon Team