Whether this is your first time indoor go karting or you’re already a wizard on the track, you might be wondering how to prepare for a go karting race so that you’re guaranteed to top the podium every single time.
While a winning performance is built around a number of factors, you do have a secret weapon at your disposal that, when used effectively, makes you unstoppable. What is it we hear you ask? Nutrition.
To help you tear up the track and leave your competitors behind, we have put together a guide on how to prepare for karting through nutrition, covering:
Ready to unleash the power of nutrition on your competitors? Let’s go!
Why is nutrition important in go karting?
Yes, it’s important to learn about drifting in go karting, taking a hairpin bend and defending your position, but it’s equally as important to learn about how to prepare for go karting through nutrition.
Nutrition is a crucial factor in go karting as it has a direct impact on your performance. It can affect your endurance and energy levels which are needed to sustain your lead on the track. Nutrition also helps (or hinders if nutrition is poor) with concentration and reaction times, ensuring you have lightning-fast reflexes on race day. It even supports with building muscle strength so you can reduce the risk of cramping or injury.
Just as your go kart needs petrol and e-kart needs electricity, you also need to fuel your body if you want to take the gold medal.
Pre-race go kart food and nutrition tips
We’ve all heard the saying ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ and this is especially true when it comes to go karting. The race doesn’t begin when you step onto the track, it starts in the days and even weeks leading up to the main event.
That’s right, you don’t need to be practising and doing laps everyday to become a winner, focusing on your nutrition and ensuring you’re in the best health and fitness possible will help you clinch the victory.
Here are our top five go kart food and nutrition tips that will take your racing to the next level:
- Eat carbohydrates and protein - Ahead of race day, it’s crucial to reduce as much fat as possible, so protein and carbohydrates such as chicken, eggs, fish, rice, potatoes and pasta are great. Complex carbohydrates are also important, including fruit and vegetables. A good mixture of carbs and protein will help you sustain your energy levels and speed to victory! If you’re wondering why go karting is so tiring, it might be that you’re not eating enough carbs and protein before your race.
- Have a balanced diet - While carbohydrates and protein are the best food groups for racing success, it’s just as important to keep your diet balanced. Whether you’re having chicken, pasta or fish, pair them with vegetables and keep fatty/sugary foods to a minimum.
- Meal timing - The night before your race, ensure you don’t eat your dinner too late so you have plenty of time to digest. The same applies for your breakfast! Also, eating a meal just before your race can add extra weight to your go kart which affects your overall performance. Learn more about how weight impacts speed in go karting.
- Keep hydrated - As we’ve already mentioned, drinking too much or too little can have a negative impact on your race so it’s important to make sure you keep hydrated without going overboard. Water is the best drink you can have, although if you want something with more flavour, try a sports drink with electrolytes in it.
- Bring snacks - Snacks are a true hero in racing! You want to avoid eating too much or too little before your race but still need to ensure you stock up on carbs and protein, so snacks are the way forward. Some of the best pre-race snacks include nuts, fruit and protein bars.
Post-race go kart food
So you’ve loaded up on carbs, kept yourself hydrated, put the pedal to the metal and placed first on the podium…now what?
The second you’ve shaken the hands of your opponents, it’s time to celebrate! After all your hard work and determination, you will have worked up an appetite so treat yourself to a meal of champions. At TeamSport, our tantalising go kart food menu has something for everyone, including sumptuous pancakes, sharing nachos and light bites such as mozzarella sticks.
Not in the mood for go kart food after claiming your victory? We also have mouth watering drinks such as thick milkshakes, refreshing smoothies and alcoholic beverages. Check out our full food and drinks offering.
With indulgent go kart food and plenty of drinks flowing, it’s the perfect end to a fiercely fun day of racing. The only question left to ask is, when’s your next race?
Common nutrition mistakes to avoid when go karting
Whether you’re having an adrenaline-filled family day out or a unique corporate event, you’ll want to do everything you can to stay ahead of the competition. As important as it is to consider how to prepare for a go karting race, it’s equally as vital to understand how not to prepare.
If you want to avoid being beaten by your opponents on the track, there are several nutrition mistakes you need to steer clear of:
- Eating a full meal just before - We’ve all been there, where we’ve enjoyed a delicious, hearty meal…and then immediately needed a nap. If you eat a big meal before your race, it can make you feel lethargic and uncomfortable. In some instances, it can even make you feel sick, which is the last thing you want to be worrying about as you rip around the track.
- Hydrating too much - While hydration is one of the key elements to go karting success, you don’t want to drink too much water minutes before heading out on the track as you may need to cut your race short to go to the toilet. Even if you don’t need to forfeit the competition, it will likely still impact your concentration, paving the way for your opponent to overtake you. Learn more about how to avoid being overtaken.
- Not eating or drinking enough - While eating and drinking too much before your race isn’t ideal, the same can be said for the opposite. If you don’t eat enough, you won’t have the energy needed to steal the win from your competitors. If you don’t drink enough, you could become dehydrated which may cause dizziness or headaches and mean you need to sit out on the race altogether.
- Eating the wrong kinds of food - It’s really important to sustain your energy throughout race day so you should avoid sugary foods that will give you a quick burst of energy followed by a slump. We’ll talk more about what types of food to eat to nail your go karting nutrition in the next section.
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Experience a thrilling go karting session with TeamSport today
Whether you’re wanting to hone your racing skills, celebrate a kid’s birthday or organise a stag or hen do to remember, book one of our 40+ go karting tracks across the UK and prepare for a high-octane experience.
You can contact us today for our various karting packages available and take a look at our FAQs to learn more information.