Level Up!: It’s Bout Week

The lights are getting brighter, the butterflies are multiplying – it's bout week, derby peaches! This is where all your training culminates in an epic  throwdown showdown on the track. But before you lace up and unleash, let's talk about some pre-bout strategies to maximize your performance – physically and mentally.

Sharpen Your Body, Sharpen Your Mind:

Fuel for the Fight: Eating right during bout week is crucial. Focus on easily digestible carbs for sustained energy, lean protein for muscle repair, and plenty of hydrating fruits and veggies. Ditch the heavy meals and processed foods – they'll leave you feeling sluggish and honestly… Gross.   You want to feel light and awesome, not sluggish and bloated.

Hydrate-Hydrate-Hydrate: Up that water intake! ABS baby- Always Be Sipping … on water. Your body needs the extra fluids to perform optimally, especially as nerves might make you forget to drink.

Be an R&R Rockstar: Focus on quality sleep. Get those 7-8  hours (or as close as you can with life and work and…yeah) of sleep nightly to allow your body to recover from training and prepare for the bout's intensity.

Practice Visualization: Seriously there are studies on this!!! Imagine yourself dominating the track. Visualize yourself executing well practiced jams, making clutch blocks, and feeling overall confident and in control. This mental rehearsal can work wonders for your on-bench composure too.

Positive Reinforcement: Surround yourself with positive people. Teammates, coaches, and derby wives & besties who believe in you and hype you up can be a game-changer. Talk to them, visualize success together, and banish any pre-bout jitters.

Gear Up & Game On: Double-check all your gear to make sure everything fits right and works properly. Don't wait until the last minute to discover a missing pad or a loose wheel – only chaos will ensue!

Pre-Bout Ritual:  Find a routine that calms your nerves and gets you focused. Maybe it's jamming to your favorite pump-up playlist, grabbing a smoothie and a sandwich,  doing some light stretches, or stopping by the gas station for your Victory Pickle purchase.

Game Day Gratitude: Take a moment before the bout to express gratitude and affirm your team, your body, and the opportunity to compete. This shift in focus can take the edge off those pre-game nerves

Derby is just as much mental as it is physical. By taking care of your body, fueling your mind with positivity, and staying prepared, you'll be a force to be reckoned with on the track. Now go out there, dominate, and show everyone what you are made of.

Derby Love,

Smack <3