The Nationals Lifestyle - AUDT Co-Captain, Taryn

It is hard to believe that Nationals is only a few short weeks away, a thought both exciting and terrifying at the same time. This has been an event-filled week. Last Thursday, several members of AUDT took the bus to Philadelphia to cheer on the Eagles Men’s Basketball Team at their second appearance at the NCAA tournament. After all, we really are their biggest fans. Even while preparing for Nationals, we never forget that our number one priority is to show support for our school. We’re proud to be Eagles and we made sure the Villanova fans knew it!

Now that that fun distraction is over, however, it’s down to business. Like Christina said, getting our Nationals routine ready is taking a lot out of us, physically and emotionally. That’s because preparing for Nationals involves more than just a lot of practice (and I mean A LOT); preparing for Nationals is a lifestyle. We eat, sleep and breathe it. Literally.

For example, we’ve been carefully watching our diets. We only eat foods that will give us energy to help our bodies make it through long practice days like last Sunday, when we had two three hour sessions (but we made it!). I think I speak for all of us when I say I’ve been craving some pizza and ice cream, but we make smart choices, like drinking healthy fruit smoothies, so that our bodies stay healthy and all of our conditioning does not go to waste.

One thing that really helps us to endure this physically draining time is our team support system. Each and every one of us is equally dedicated to the task at hand and we encourage each other. I know sometimes I would not be able to get through the routine without the girls yelling various motivational phrases that probably sound ridiculous to anyone else listening. I feel truly grateful to be part of a unit that will not leave any stragglers behind and will never give up on me or let me give up. Support for each other is a truly essential ingredient for a successful team, and AUDT has that.

We finally understand exactly what it is going to take to get us to the Nationals stage, now it is just a matter of doing it. Easier said than done, but, as we’ve learned… “no pain no gain!”