College athletes live busy lives, but for me, being a track and field athlete at Davidson College is a little different than what most Division I track athletes experience. The easiest way to see that is in my daily schedule:
8:30 (ish)- I wake up, but this depended on if my class was canceled, because obviously, I would not choose to wake up at this time if I did not have to!
9:00- Breakfast at the place closest to my dorm room, the College Union. I ordered the same meal almost everyday: two scrambled eggs, bacon, hash rounds (our breakfast tater tots), and wheat toast if I am feeling ambitious. My coach told me that a breakfast containing protein and some kind of carb is the way to go.
9:30- Gendered Communications in Society is my first class of the day (the benefit of a liberal arts education is taking enlightening classes like this).
10:20-Time to go lift!
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11:15 (ish)- Finish lifting and grab a protein shake to walk back to my dorm (about 10 feet from the weight room), and get ready for my next class.
11:30- Start my next class, Ecology, where we discuss trees and ecosystems (Biology major stuff, you know?).
12:30- Head to the Wildcat Den and order my usual: a whole wheat wrap with turkey, provolone, lettuce, pickles, and some oil with a pickle spear on the side. If I'm feeling daring, I'll get a parfait (usually containing vanilla yogurt, some kind of fruit, granola, and white chocolate chips… sorry coach)
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12:50 (ish)- After eating, I would go to the training room for pre-hab (rolling out, stretching). I have to go in twice a week to get scrapped. For those of you that don't know, it sucks–it's the worst 5 minutes of my day. But, it feels great after and is really good for you.
1:15-30- This became a key decision: Do I stay at the Wildcat Den and do some work, go to the student Union and work, or just go to my room and nap? Based on the day, the outcome of this decision will be different.
2:30- My last class of the day, BioStats for Life Sciences, begins. I learned how to analyze data, which sounds cool, but was actually quite confusing with computer coding.
3:45- Class ends and I walk back to my room until practice starts.
4:30- Show up on the track for practice! Mondays are usually speed days, which means accelerations and form.
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5:30 (ish)- This is where my schedule is different from many college athletes because I have meetings for my service-based scholarship, Bonner Scholars Program, which discusses service, ethics, and social issues. There is a chance that snacks were provided.
7:10-15 (ish)- After the meeting ends at 6:30, I arrive at Vail Commons, get my dinner, and use this time to relax by watching a show on Netflix on my phone (dinner and a show!)
8:30- Usually I hang out with some friends who are already at the Commons. After, I leave to go shower and get my schedule organized.
9:00- Start my homework for the next day and possibly start what I was assigned that day (sometimes if the work is lighter, I finish the assignment the day I got it)
11-12:00- I finish working because I prefer not to go to bed too late (Am I consistently working during this time? No…but who's keeping track?)
11:30-12:30- Go to bed!
What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]
* Originally published on September 21, 2022, by Makayla Binter
