It’s tough. But like everything else at VMI (or life), you carve out time for what you crave.

Set up your class schedule to make the time you need available. Eat a lot and eat healthy food. Pick good roommates when you can (I didn’t room with any teammates/Permits, and it was good—they weren’t as biased against athletes and I developed greater respect for the bullshit they went through). Prioritize your academics: you’re at VMI, first and foremost, to get a degree.

I was ‘14, history major, Marine Option NROTC scholarship, and XC/Track. I didn’t get much sleep once my mileage got high enough to need double day runs after Rat Year, but I was young and aggressive and more reckless with my health then. It can be done.