How to prepare for THON weekend

Will THON top last year's record $9.56 million effort? Photo by Shawn Inglima.

This is the most excited I’ve been in a long, long time and for good reason.

We are only five days away from THON.

This is an opportunity for students and THON families to celebrate another year of great efforts to raise funds and awareness in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Without further ado, here’s what you need to do to be ready for the best weekend of the year.

1. Bring Kleenex.

We all know THON weekend will be a lot of fun, so why would we want to bring Kleenex?

I’ve never been to THON weekend before, but I’ve talked to several THON veterans that said you should expect to cry. A lot. This weekend brings with it a mixed bottle of emotions.

2. Be physically fit.

This particularly applies to THON dancers, because they will be on their feet for 46 straight hours.

In fact, THON dancers should have been working up their strength and endurance for several months now. If you are a THON dancer, you need to be physically able to endure two days of nonstop action.

3. Get some sleep.

Everyone has to be well rested going into THON weekend.

Your best bet is to complete all of your school work early in the week, so that you have ample time to sleep and nap as much as possible a day or two before THON weekend begins.

You should try getting at least eight hours of sleep each night before THON weekend.

4. Break in your shoes.

A lot of THON dancers and moralers have new shoes to wear for THON weekend, and anyone who has ever bought a new pair of shoes knows they need broken in for a week or two before they're comfortable.

If you haven’t begun to break in your new shoes, now is the time to do it. You don’t want to wear your shoes right of the box. That could make for a long, uncomfortable experience for your feet.

Also, it would be a good idea to bring an extra pair of shoes.

5. Eat and drink well.

You need energy, and you need to be hydrated.

Eat well balanced meals every day leading up to THON. This will allow you to store energy that you will need. You should also be eating meals during THON weekend.

Also, drink water to stay hydrated. Dehydration is a serious concern for everyone.

6. Want to know more? Visit the THON Dancer Survival Guide.

7. Have a great time! 

THON weekend countdown: 5 days, 1 hour, 50 minutes, 59 seconds