Be Brave. Take Risks. Nothing can substitute experience. ~ Paulo Coelho

I’ve wanted to take a solo trip for some time. A few weeks ago, I had that urge, looked at some random plane tickets, and found that tickets from LAX to Havana Cuba were a great price! Cuba was a trip that I’ve been trying to coordinate with a few different people and it never seemed to work out. So… I went for it. I bought my ticket and had 5 days to prepare. Here is what I learned about solo travel, Cuba, and trying to maintain training in a drastically different environment:

• Solo travel will change you forever. It’s hard, it’s scary, it can be lonely, and it can be intimidating. It can also be the most empowering experience if you can embrace the uncomfortableness. You will learn things about yourself that will surprise you. You will be amazed at your own ability to cultivate new conversations and relationships. You will meet people that inspire you. You will meet people that are an example of what you don’t want to become. You will look at your current relationships, career, environment, and purpose with a different light. Regardless of whether you travel to a foreign country or a few cities away, get out there and take a solo trip. At least 3-5 days BY YOUR SELF. I promise that you will come back a better version of you. You may even inspire someone to take their own solo trip!
• Cuba…well Cuba is amazing. It’s colorful, friendly, historical, and FULL of culture. Seriously, it had some of the friendliest and most helpful people I have ever met and the VERY BEST beaches ever. I could have swam for days. I think I went into the water about 20 times each day I was at the beach. I could go on forever about Cuba. Instead I will just tell you to go there and experience it:)
• Sometimes letting go of a disciplined training schedule to live a spontaneous life brings you back even stronger. Even though my cycling suffered a little, all my swims were leisure “floats” with a Mojito in hand, I did cover about 30 miles on foot exploring Havana.
  

  RUUUUMMMBA

  

  Heaven

  

  Classic

  

  Beachin’

This trip was needed and by far one of the best challenges I’ve put myself up to recently. I highly recommend you try solo travel if you have never done it before.

Now we are back to reality and had a great Memorial Day Weekend full on training for our Road to Whistler 70.3!