The End of the School Year

Every year when school's about to close for the summer, I literally get so sad, even though I love summer as much (if not more) than anyone.  It's funny though.  I get to the end of winter, and I'm sad because there's no skiing, no snow days, no snowmen lining the yards of the neighbors.  I get to the end of summer, and it's back to school, back to long nights and long classes, but I get to see my friends.  I get to the end of fall, and its bittersweet because the snow comes down and we all freeze, but I get to ski and Christmas comes around… Life is bittersweet.  Every up is going to be followed and preceded by a down.  Some are worse or better than others.  We all fail.  We all fall.  Yeah, I know I say that a lot.  But, at the same time, we all have our moments, our little (or massive) victories.  And we can all sit and bask in the glory of those.  Of the little things.  The snacks we have with our friends.  The conversations that bring smiles to our face.  The runs that leave you feeling absolutely defeated, but oh, so accomplished.

Every day is going to be a challenge, even if you've been waiting on it your entire life.  Don't expect it not to be.  There's no such thing as perfection, because if there was perfection, nothing would be worth living out at all.  But, we can get pretty darn close.

I've been telling myself for the last day, and in reality, the last several months, that I have grown up so much in the last few years.  I came out of my shy, timid phase.  I grew up when I thought I might forever be a child.  I set goals and achieved them--- most of the time.  I made friendships and I backed my friends up, and sometimes I wasn't there when I should have been.  But, like I've said a thousand times, we all try and we've all failed and fallen.  We've all fought and been knocked down, but it doesn't matter, because someday there will be a moment where you'll open your eyes and look around and all will be worth it.  Every moment where you doubted yourself, every relationship that didn't work out, every attempt at a task that you didn't follow through with, will be worth it.

This summer is going to be amazing.  I will travel and see and do things I never thought I would.  I will work and slowly teach my leg muscles how to work together again, on a run, on a bike.  I will make memories with family and friends.  I would not trade any moment in my life for anything.  Not the failures.  Not the moments I'm not proud of.  Not the challenges and definitely not the blessings.

So for today, I blast music in my ears as I go over a final paper and get ready to beast out finals week.  It hasn't been an easy road, but it isn't for anybody.  We've all struggled.  We've all lost people we love.  I know there are people I wish could be here today and throughout the next few years to watch me become a Marine Officer.  I know I'm not the only one.  We've all disappointed ourselves and others, and watched our dreams seem to disappear a little, hanging out just at the edge of our fingertips, but in the end, those things molded us into who we are today… Those people pushed us to discover who we wanted to be and what dreams we were going to chase.

So now, I'm going to go over my final history paper, crank out some Navigation assignments (theoretically the last time I'll be doing ocean navigation… Land Nav here we come!), and get ready for a strong last week before I go on an epic trip.

Semper Fidelis!
Thanks for reading,
Sarah

Great Vacation Spots

Spring break is coming, with summer not far behind, so it's time to choose your vacation destinations.  So I am going to be completely biased with the following post.  If you are not a runner, cyclist or skier, you should probably look away.  If you are, then we should be able to find something to suit you.

(In no particular order)
Top Vacation Spots for An Athlete

1. Iowa: So we all know that Iowa gets a bad rep for being a “in the middle of nowhere” state.  Famous

Me with a Turkin in Iowa

for the movie, Field of Dreams, a bunch of cows, soybeans, corn and absolutely nothing else, you’re probably shocked to see the state on my list.  However, Iowa’s most exciting feature is RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa).  One day, some people working for the newspaper, the Des Moines Register decided to bike across the state, river to river.  What started as a few people, turned into a 10,000-20,000 person journey that occurs every July.  As a six-time RAGBRAI rider, I have done everything from seeing the world’s largest horse, to dunking a nun in a dunk tank to visiting a state penitentiary to asking Lance Armstrong in person how many miles he rides his bike a year (25,000) to hitting up tons of cool water parks, public pools, lakes and slip 'n slides.  There’s also loads of delicious pork and pie.  If you are a cyclist (or pie lover) who hasn’t tried RAGBRAI, I urge you to log onto the website and register now.  It will be an adventure you never forget.   

RAGBRAI

2. Washington D.C.: D.C. is a great place not only to explore American history and culture, but also for notable athletic events like the Marine Corps Marathon.  One of the largest marathons in the United States, registration for the lottery is open today, so don't tarry in signing up!  You won't regret it.


3.  Destin, FL:  Some call it the "Redneck Riviera", others the "Emerald Coast".  To me, it's home

away from home, since I've been going there my entire life.  What began as a fishing village has now become a booming tourist destination, full of golf courses, tennis courts, pools and beautiful white sandy beaches.  Located on the panhandle, not far from Pensacola Naval Air Base, and right next to
Eglan Air Force Base, Destin is a great place to kick back for a few days and work on your tan.  And if you need a work out, hit up the nearby Crossfit Gym, race one of several road races in the area, swim in the ocean or run, bike and rollerblade, all the while enjoying the delicious seafood the Destin Area has to offer.

Beach: Destin FL

4. Ottawa, ON: If you're looking for a change of pace, head to Canada, where you'll be met with maple sugar candy and maple syrup, tons of awesome museums, and a proud hockey team.  In winter, head over to nearby Quebec and try your hand nordic skiing at the Gatineau Loppet!

5. Toronto, ON: See a show, ride to the top of the CN Tower, go to the Royal Ontario Museum, go to a hockey game, shop, cheer on the home team at a Blue Jays game.  The possibilities are endless.  Just go!

Covered Bridge at the Outdoor Center 

6. Bethel, ME: Home to Carter's XC Area, the Bethel Inn (which offers several kilometers of tracked and groomed nordic trails and operates two locations, one by Bethel Inn and one by Sunday River Ski Area), Gould Academy (which also has a nordic center of its own which offers several races throughout the nordic season, and also only a few minutes away from Sunday River, where you can enjoy a nice ride up on the Chondola (Half chair/ Half Gondola) and amazing downhill skiing, you will enjoy a meal at the Matterhorn and skiing you'll never forget.




7. Utah: Ski in winter, bike in summer.  What more can you want but beauteous national parks and great riding/ skiing?

Niagara Falls from the Canadian side

8. Buffalo, NY: So I'm biased, since I lived there for most of my life, but even though Buffalo has a bad rep for the snow and low population, it has so much to offer.  We have snacks and meals you won't find anywhere else, which include Beef on Weck, Original Chicken Wings and sponge candy, among others.  Not far from the Erie Canal, Canadian bike paths, great skiing, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines where Steve Bauer (former pro cyclist who medaled in the Olympics) hosts a ride every year, and Toronto, Buffalo is not to be missed.  We also offer the Ride For Roswell, Buffalo Marathon and Half Marathon, among other
athletic endeavors not to be missed.

Delaware Park in Buffalo NY in winter

Other Notable Destinations:
Czech Republic
Cleveland, OH
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Atlanta, Georgia
Rhode Island
Antigua, Guatemala

On the bucket list:
Antarctica
Oregon Coast
Yellowstone
TBD