Recovery matters more than you think

Most people think tournament preparation is all about practice.

Practice is important, but I've started learning that recovery matters just as much.

For the SJCC in Las Vegas, I flew out on Friday after a busy week of school and club practices. Between classes, homework, training, and travel, I could definitely feel the fatigue building up.

Then came the five-hour flight. Being tall already makes long flights uncomfortable, and sitting for that long isn't exactly ideal before competing. By the time I arrived, I felt tired, stiff, and ready for a break. Fortunately, my event didn't start until 1:00 PM the next day. Instead of trying to do more training, I focused on recovery. I relaxed, got off my feet, hydrated, and made sleep the priority.

What Whoop Has Taught Me

Recently I started wearing a Whoop fitness tracker. One of the biggest lessons so far is how much sleep affects everything. I already knew sleep was important, but seeing the data makes it harder to ignore. On days when recovery scores are lower, I usually feel it during practice too.

The same goes for hydration and stress. Sometimes you don't realize how much school, travel, training, and everyday life are affecting your body until you see the numbers.

Surviving Las Vegas Heat

Las Vegas was over 100 degrees during the weekend. Even though most of the competition takes place indoors, the heat still affects you. Walking outside, traveling between locations, and spending time in the sun can all add up. Hydration became a priority. I carried water everywhere and probably drank more than I normally would at home. My go-to choice was alkaline water, which helped me stay on top of hydration throughout the trip.

Recovery Is Part of Training

When I was younger, I mostly thought improvement came from working harder. Now I'm starting to realize that improvement also comes from recovering smarter. Good sleep, proper hydration, managing stress, and listening to your body are all part of the process. The goal isn't just to arrive at the tournament. The goal is to arrive ready to perform.

Sometimes the best thing you can do before a competition isn't another practice session—it's getting an extra hour of sleep.