For junior sociology and human rights major Aileen Hull, the fall semester usually consists of early morning workouts, hours of team bonding and weekend meets. As a cross country and track athlete, she’s used to being on the move.
This fall, however, looks a little different.
With the Atlantic 10 conference postponing the fall season until the spring semester, Hull is having to adapt. Although she is unable to train and compete with her teammates like normal, her daily healthy habits have not changed. Here is what her day looks like.
To model what a normal weekly training schedule with the team would look like, Hull goes for a run and finishes with a short strength workout. Lately, she’s been running on softer surfaces like grass or dirt to help her injured leg. She said too often after an injury she gets back into workouts too fast and then re-injures herself.
“I just need to go slow, and I have all the time in the world,” Hull said.
She usually eats some variation of oatmeal — oats, berries, bananas and a nut butter — for breakfast with a splash of milk.
“I always try to get some sort of milk in the morning because I have to have a lot of Vitamin D because I have low bone density — that’s why I get injured a lot,” Hull said.
Comprised of individuals who are recommended by faculty, the Moral Courage Project partners with outside organizations that address widespread issues like access to clean water, immigration and civil rights. Hull started working with the group virtually this past summer.
Hummus toast with spinach and tomatoes, with an apple on the side, is Hull’s go-to.
Hull is helping sociology professor Anya Galli Robertson with research this semester. She typically works on Mondays and Fridays, but she’ll squeeze in a little extra on off days if she has time.
After a long day of classes, Hull does a cross-training workout. Ideally, she swims laps or aqua jogs at the RecPlex pool, but she also can ride her bike around campus.
“You have to go really long to get a good workout from that,” said Hull, for example a three- to four-hour ride. “I don’t have time for that.”
She instead opts or an hour or two on the bike and spends the rest of her time on homework.
“I usually have a grain, like quinoa or rice, and then some sort of bean and broccoli on top of that and roasted. And then I put tahini sauce on there. I love it,” she said.
And, the more vegetables, the better. “Just put it all in there,” Hull said.
Hull loves to make homemade bread in the evenings, and her roommates are big fans.
Hull’s guilty pleasure: peanut butter.
Pro tip: Sometimes, Hull sleeps in her workout clothes so she’s ready to get up bright and early to exercise in the morning.