Is the hay in the barn?

If you're competing at the Orlando NAC next week, or any big event this fall, it's worth asking yourself which one you're doing.

In performance sports like running, there's a phrase leading into championship events: the hay is in the barn. It takes months of training to build endurance, strength, and stamina. You can't cram those adaptations into the final week.

The same is largely true in fencing.

I'm not a fan of spending the final training week cramming for the exam. Trying to add new actions or overhaul your tactics in the final days rarely builds confidence. More often, you end up second-guessing the game you've spent months developing.

That doesn't mean you stop preparing.

I treat the final 7–10 days as a taper: less intensity, more recovery, and a little more attention to the things that are easy to overlook when training is busy. Video review, strategy, flexibility, sleep, hydration, and nutrition all have their place.

The goal is to arrive ready to compete, not still recovering from your last hard practice.

One of the most common mistakes I see is fencers feeling underprepared and trying to make up for it by doing more. But a big tournament isn't the time to chase fitness or rebuild your game. It's time to sharpen what you already have and get yourself ready to use it.

Take care of the details. Sort your equipment and travel plans. Review your strategy. Get some rest. Give yourself the chance to walk onto the strip feeling prepared, rather than worrying about everything you didn't get done.

The work is in. Now let it show.

One action this week: Identify one thing you can do to feel more prepared for tournament day, and take care of it now. Then give yourself permission to trust the training.