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So you're probably here to learn how to prepare for a meet. Well then, I hope these following tips can help you!
1. Eat a Carb-Filled Dinner The Night Before
Although many of us try to avoid the very thing, carbs are a great way to prepare for a meet. I won't go all science-y on you, but when you eat carbs, they form sugar (not the sweet kind, the kind that your body uses to create energy) that your body can burn easily to make lots of energy. If you eat dinner the night before a race, your body has plenty of time to digest them and turn them into ready-to-use energy for the next day.
2. Have a Good Night's Sleep
This is pretty obvious: Getting a good night's sleep can help you wake up refreshed and ready for all your races. Although this is a simple step, it's huge in that it'll help you swim a lot faster.
3. Eat a Nutritious Meal Directly Before the Meet
Try eating a light, but filling, meal before you race. Some pasta or a bagel will do, but if your meet is over 3 hours you might want some protein like chicken or eggs before you leave. This also brings me to :
4. Bring Snacks (!!)
Bringing snacks is probably the best thing you can do for yourself at a meet. While you race as fast as you can, your body needs almost 3 times the energy than usual, especially when you immediately race after rest. Eating small snacks between races is a great way to stay awake and fresh.
5. Stretch Before Racing
When you go up to the blocks for a race, take those couple of minutes to stretch out and loosen your muscles. This gets them ready to face a burst of force and energy, especially after sitting in one area for an extended period of time. Before stretching, your muscles can be tight, and if you try to race with them, you'll get really tired, really quickly.
So these are some of my tips and tricks for swim meets! If you have anymore, contact me telling me your favorite way to get ready for a meet!
Here are some great videos to watch before your races:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzhzkKccBi8
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_VQbtO3ChM
1. Eat a Carb-Filled Dinner The Night Before
Although many of us try to avoid the very thing, carbs are a great way to prepare for a meet. I won't go all science-y on you, but when you eat carbs, they form sugar (not the sweet kind, the kind that your body uses to create energy) that your body can burn easily to make lots of energy. If you eat dinner the night before a race, your body has plenty of time to digest them and turn them into ready-to-use energy for the next day.
2. Have a Good Night's Sleep
This is pretty obvious: Getting a good night's sleep can help you wake up refreshed and ready for all your races. Although this is a simple step, it's huge in that it'll help you swim a lot faster.
3. Eat a Nutritious Meal Directly Before the Meet
Try eating a light, but filling, meal before you race. Some pasta or a bagel will do, but if your meet is over 3 hours you might want some protein like chicken or eggs before you leave. This also brings me to :
4. Bring Snacks (!!)
Bringing snacks is probably the best thing you can do for yourself at a meet. While you race as fast as you can, your body needs almost 3 times the energy than usual, especially when you immediately race after rest. Eating small snacks between races is a great way to stay awake and fresh.
5. Stretch Before Racing
When you go up to the blocks for a race, take those couple of minutes to stretch out and loosen your muscles. This gets them ready to face a burst of force and energy, especially after sitting in one area for an extended period of time. Before stretching, your muscles can be tight, and if you try to race with them, you'll get really tired, really quickly.
So these are some of my tips and tricks for swim meets! If you have anymore, contact me telling me your favorite way to get ready for a meet!
Here are some great videos to watch before your races:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzhzkKccBi8
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_VQbtO3ChM