What do you do if you have a show far away, like a 10-hour flight?

[SteelWeaver]

How do you handle the final week if you're competing far away? Go there, and do the final prep. at the location, or fly the night or two nights before? Would flying whilst carbing up, dehydrating, etc. cause any problems?

Anyone?

 

[Pink Space Biscuit]

I know a lot of people that live on either coast and end up competing on the opposite. They usually get there at least the day before if not two, lots of protan in the hotel bathroom and messy white sheets.

 

[nikkita]

I would say that is better, if possible, to arrive a week before. If not possible then try to get there a couple of days before, because if it's a long trip... it will sure be tiring.
On the other hand, you'll need to plan ahead your meals. For instance, if you are used to a diet at certain times, you may not be able to carry all the food with you... and consider if there are restrictions in the airport for carrying certain food.
What I did on a trip, was get plenty of protein bars, packs of protein shake or meal replacement, carb bars and my bottle with water. So when I needed my meal, I try substitute according to what I needed to eat. I also had lunch at the airport.
If you plan ahead there will be no trouble, because you'll have everything at hand.
When you get to the location, try to sleep well because long trips may get you so tired that it may be difficult to recover quickly.
Hope this helps

 

[keiko]

And don't forget to walk and stretch on the plane. I always bloat up in the air and then pee like a racehorse on the ground. Carbonation makes it worse.

 

[SteelWeaver]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I can the meals part of things pretty easily - I always carry my meals to work every day anyway. It's the bloating I worry about, and I always get really thirsty on the plane.

And ensuring that my routine continues smoothly when I get there ...

 

[Pink Space Biscuit]

Get an aisle seat and drink and drink and pee and pee.

 

[healthnut]

The humidity on a plane is usually about 2-4% while you're in the air (that's lower than Arizona desert), which is prob why you get so thirsty. People are prone to dehydration when they fly, esp. during long flights. They say you should drink at least 1-2 glasses per hour that you fly while you're flying.

Re: stretching and walking during flight - I don't know if you've heard of the potential blood clots during long flights, but they can happen and stretching/walking and taking an asprin will just about eliminate that possibility (as far as I know)!

Good luck

 

[SteelWeaver]

Bump for JJ

 

[MS]

NO caffeine or alcohol, lots and lots of water, and almost constant walking up and down the aisles. The ideal option is to arrive at least a week before your comp to avoid problems with the stress of flying, foreign countries, strange bed, jet lag (and all of the associated cortisol inducing/fluid retaining activities attached to foreign travel). But this requires finding a gym, food supply etc... in a new country. At least they speak English in Sydney!

 

[JJFigure]

Thanks Steel and company! I booked an aisle seat and just plan to pee alot. I hadn't thought about the walking around bit - that should help out too.