Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Gameday Routines and Rituals

So now that game day is approaching do you have all of your routines set to go? Have you practiced your rituals pre & post wod so that you're in a state of comfort when all of the madness is going on around you? Have you mapped out your pre-wod & post wod meal for competition day? At this point you probably should have a good idea of what you're going to eat pre-wod and immediately post wod on Saturday. If you've tested the 2 a day format you know how your body feels after the 1st wod and before the 2nd, so do you know or have you tried to find the optimal foods to keep your energy level at it's best so that you have everything still in the tank for both wods?
Adrenaline will for sure be a part of the picture but it will only last for so long. If you don't have a clue what your pre/post wod nutrition will be then you've still got a few days to think about it and test it out. The 2 wods will probably be 3-4 hours apart so again make sure you have the correct nutrient timing and such to maximize your a) recovery from wod 1 and b) your preparation for wod 2. When in doubt concentrate on carbs/protein both immediately before and after wods and without getting overly specific fruits/vegetables and lean meats are the way to go although there are exceptions (ahem - I'm a confessed protein-bar-aholic so don't mind me opening my "candy" bar in front of you). If you find solids tough to swallow either before or after wods go to liquids like smoothies, shakes, protein powders etc which are easy to digest and give you the nutrients you need in the most crucial moments for your body.
No two athletes will function the same from the same foods so just continually experiment to see which mix works best for you and when you find it stick with it.....

2 comments:

  1. the time for experimentation should be over and consistency is key....if it works stick with it. Your body doesn't like you mixing it up during serious times of stress.

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  2. no kidding ... like cramming for a chemistry exam ... you should have been practising the formulaic procedures already, not learning them for the first time right before the exam! :)

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