While many athletes love the feeling of playing a game at home, many find that the majority of their games or events require them to travel in order to compete. And although traveling can be fun when doing so for recreation, having to travel before a game or event can put added stress on an athlete.
Luckily, with the right planning and preparation, you can perform just as well after traveling as you can when competing on your own turf. To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to prepare for an away game or event.
Pick A Window Seat
Hitting the road before a game or event can take a lot out of an athlete. Even if the distance you’re traveling isn’t very far, simply being out of your element and routine can make it hard to feel mentally and physically prepared to perform.
One thing that can help with this is ensuring that you’re able to get your rest prior to your event. To give you a better chance of resting and catching some sleep, Jamie Ditaranto, a contributor to Smarter Travel, recommends that you try to pick a window seat on whatever transportation you’re using. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you have somewhere to rest your head as well as not having to be bothered by people going up and down the aisles.
Be Smart When Packing Your Gear
While it’s always a good idea to take care when packing anything into a vehicle so your items don’t become projectiles in the event of an accident on the road, you’re going to want to be extra careful when packing your gear before heading off for a game or event.
According to Dr. Mary L. Gavin, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, you should always check your gear before you play to ensure that it’s clean and safe. This check is even more important when traveling for an event since you likely won’t have any backup gear available to you if you forget something or something breaks along the way.
Take Care When Eating En Route
For many people, traveling is a great time to indulge in some snacks along your way. But when you’ll need to be performing once your travels are over, it’s wise to be careful of what you’re eating while you’re en route.
Jill Castle, a contributor to EatRight.org, shares that you should ensure that you give your body about two to three hours to digest your food before an athletic event. And as far as the food you eat while traveling to your event, make sure it’s fueling your body and not just something delicious to snack on.
If you’re an athlete who struggles with performing after traveling, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you master this.
