How early is too early to get up for a meet?

momof5 · #1 12-09-2009, 04:23 PM

I have a dilemma for an up coming meet. She has a 9am start time to I am trying to avoid a hotel stay(money and a babysitting issue). We would have to probably leave at 5:30 in the morning for a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive depending on the weather. I have never had to leave so early for a meet before so I don't know how it will affect her. It's about an 1 1/2 earlier then she usually wakes up and I doubt that I can get her to fall asleep earlier. She is usually quite energetic once she wakes up. I do know that the two meets we were at last year were she was recovering from illness and was a bit worn down she didn't do as well. I will probably feel bad if she runs out of gas though.

What has been your experience with these early morning travel experiences and do you think this is an ok decision?

kristilyn73 · #2 12-09-2009, 04:35 PM

We live 2 hours from the majority of our meets and that is exactly what I do.. We get up about 5 am... do a quick shower/hair and start driving around 6:00... Have a breakfast snack on the trip.

I have also found this helps with making sure DD is not groggy.. If we were to spend the night at the hotel we would probably sleep in till 7:30 then rush around... this way is more relaxing.

**bogwoppit** · #3 12-09-2009, 04:38 PM

We have had to leave at 5am for a 7am start time, we did this for the first 3 years that bigger bog competed. It was really tough but we only have three meets a year and they all started at the same time.

Competing early meant she had energy, but she always crashed early that night.

I always made sure the hair was done the night before, that food was ready to go in coolers and did the drive through for tea and hot chocolate. Had a blanket and a movie for in the car and we did not talk about the meet at all. Gave her a chance to wake up and relax before the meet.

gigglesmom09 · #4 12-09-2009, 04:58 PM

For us, DD is not a good morning person, and the early meets we've had at 8 or 9, which are more than 2 hrs drive away, usually end up as hotel stays. If your DD is good to go even if she has to get up extra early, then forego the $ in accommodations. We don't usually have far meets, so it hasn't been an issue staying overnight. I have sympathy if you have more than 2 meets that far away with early start times!

Good luck with your season!

gymmomntc2e6 · #5 12-09-2009, 05:37 PM

We have left at 5:30 am before to get to an 8:00 am start. It was a little rough but funds were low so we made the best of it. She slept a little in the car, had some breakfast.

madigym00 · #6 12-09-2009, 05:55 PM

We do hotel stays for early morning meets...mainly because I am not a morning person and DD does not sleep well in her curlers

...so getting up any earlier than necessary is generally avoided in my house!

emorymom · #7 12-10-2009, 05:00 AM

I have been wondering how much floor room would be in my minivan if I pulled out the 2 captain's chairs in the middle row, left them at home and put down some kind of mattress on the floor between the rear seat and the front seats, and then just pulled into a campground for the night. If the front passenger seat came out too that would be better but I don't think it does. Just musing.

cathiann · #8 12-10-2009, 05:27 AM

WEll for us that wouldn't work--I know Beth would be way too tired. But if your daughter is an early morning kid, might as well try! What time would she have to get up though??

socko · #9 12-10-2009, 07:01 AM

If you have to LEAVE by 5:30 am then realistically, she has to be up at 5 at the latest.

My point of view on this is, I've already invested a ton of money in coaching, leos, other travel etc...what will give her the best chance to perform her best? With meets such as you describe, we stay in a nearby hotel the nite before so we know that we are near the venue, we know how to get there, we don't have to worry about car trouble and my daughter can get a decent nite's sleep.

A 3 hour car ride immediately before a meet wouldn't work for my daughter but you can try it out for this meet and see how it goes...if she tanks from the ride, no sleep etc, you can plan differently for the next meet. It's only one meet...

**bogwoppit** · #10 12-10-2009, 07:14 AM

Have you checked out Pricelin and hotwire for bargain hotels rooms, we use them all the time for travl and we get huge discounts on great hotesl. You choose you location and the star rating and then you either bid (Pricleine) or see the price (hotwire), after you had paid you find out what the hotel is called.

We even use this for family travel as with a bit of research we can find out exactly what hotels we might WIN before we pay. Use www.betterbidding.com to check out the hotels won by others.

Persoanlly we love the fun of the hotel, but the quality of sleep just isn't the same as at home. I am always thrilled to get a later start. Though of course when we opt for a very early morning start we leave ourselves open to getting lost, oversleeping or a huge snowstorm disaster.