Regardless of whether you’re an experienced runner or someone who’s just made into a high school track team, you need to take the proper preparatory measures before each and every track meet. The few hours before is particularly important. By ensuring that your mind and body are in the optimal state, you’ll be able to tackle any challenge and come out on top.

If you’re not sure about the best ways to prepare, don’t worry. The tips below should cover most of what you should do the day before and the hours leading to the meet:

Get Enough Sleep

Athletes have to sleep more hours than the average person in order to stay healthy. This is because they strain their bodies more and in turn, the body needs more time to recover. A minimum of eight hours is recommended before the day of the meet. But 9 to 10 hours is optimal.

A lot of athletes get excited the day before a meet and hardly get any sleep. In that case, you should try a few calming techniques. This includes anything from practicing meditation to listening to soothing soundtracks – whatever works for you.

Stay Hydrated

Those who run track should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily and the day before a meet is no exception. A lot of water is lost with strenuous exercise and you should take care to replenish it all. That’s why it’s best to carry a bottle of water with you everywhere you go.

While you won’t be doing any strenuous exercise the day before, this quantity of water should help get your muscles ready for the meet.

Image Source:Pexels

Eat Something Light

Avoid heavy meals at all costs on the day of the meet. Instead settle for a light healthy snack like a granola or protein bar. As long as you eat something with lots of fibre, you’ll still feel sufficiently full.

Listen to Some Music

If you’re feeling too excited, then listening to music can help soothe those nerves. So put on your best Bluetooth earbuds and go for a walk or do some chores to take your mind off the upcoming meet. It can be handy to have a playlist of your favourite tunes.

Do Some Light Jogging

A light jog is one of the best ways to get your muscles loosened up without exerting yourself. A few hours before the meet, we highly recommend that you jog around the track at least twice at a very slow pace.

Perform the Proper Stretching and Warm-Up Exercises

15 minutes of static stretching is best for athletes who run track. This involves holding a position for at least 10 seconds before moving onto the next. The following basic stretches are recommended:

• Standing quadriceps stretch

• Standing hamstring stretch

• Butterfly stretch

• Prone calf stretches

• Side lunge stretch

Follow the stretches with fifteen minutes of warming up. This can include exercises like knee to chest and skips. The goal is to get your muscles feeling sufficiently loosened but not sore.

The following tips are meant to be practiced the day before and the hours leading up the meet. They should help get both your body and mind in the best possible state.