06/05/2026
Most athletes think hydration starts when practice begins.
I’d definitely doesn’t
Hydration is the accumulation of decisions made over multiple days
The challenge is that no two programs train the same
Some athletes train twice per day
Some train in extreme heat
Some have additional lifting, skill sessions, conditioning, or competition demands,
There is no universal standard
What remains constant is physiology
Even small levels of dehydration can compound overtime messing up
Reaction time
Endurance
Power output
Recovery
And your overall performance
The athlete who champions hydration consistently has the competitive advantage before practice even starts.