Fencing on the road

Are you the business traveller type: fly in, hit the hotel, fence, fly out? Or do you try to make something of the destination?

Whether it's a day trip to a regional event or a cross-country flight to a NAC, tournament travel takes planning. As a solo traveller, it's almost impossible to do a travel-required NAC for under $1,500 when you factor in registration, lodging, transportation, food, and equipment. That's a lot to spend on a weekend.

In college, travelling in a van with teammates was the experience I remember. Early in my professional career, I'd carve out time to explore wherever I landed. Now, with a spouse and a budget to think about, the calculus is different. There's no one right way to travel, but it's worth deciding what kind of trip you're taking and how to balance everyone's needs.

Start with one question: Which event, and which day, do you need to be at your best? Work backward from there. What's the budget? Is your travel companion looking for more than fencing? How much free time do you have?

Some of my favorite tournament memories came from the company, not the destination: a 900-mile road trip with my co-coach, small squads driving across New England, and Valentine's Day at a Cincinnati NAC with my wife. There's almost always something worth enjoying along the way.

Just don't let the travel wreck your fencing. My worst tournament ever came the day after I drove from New England to Florida solo. Great road trip. Terrible warmup. A long drive and an early start can affect your performance just as much as a late night exploring a new city.

One action this week: Before your next tournament that requires travel, identify when you need to perform at your best, then plan your budget, travel, and downtime around it. Make room for the experience without compromising why you're there.