Saturday's Olympics schedule is epic. An expert guide to prepare for — and survive — your marathon watch

Every Sunday in the fall, a television host hosts seven hours of television without a commercial. That means no bathroom breaks, no food and no interruptions until the job is done. So the host has advice for fans planning to watch the Olympics on Saturday — the biggest, most star-filled day of the Paris Games. ‘Like a long car trip, take two bathroom breaks before you begin, because we’re not pulling this car over until the last gold medal is won,’ said the host, who also hosts a three-hour block of a show modeled after ‘RedZone.’ You will be forgiven, of course, for periodically stepping away from your screens. But Saturday’s slate presents a unique challenge in that there’s a full day of cant-miss action. American viewers will be served an especially packed lineup of noteworthy events, including swimming and gymnastics finals, U.S. men’s basketball and women’s soccer games, and a juicy track and field schedule. Not to mention the third round of men’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis medal matches earlier in the day. The athletes in action are a who’s who of the faces of these Games. Household names like Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, LeBron James and Sha’Carri Richardson. Breakout stars like Léon Marchand and Stephen Nedoroscik. And the schedule is staggering. There will be 31 gold medals awarded across 15 sports. From 2 a.m. ET (judo) to 5:12 p.m. ET (surfing), there will always be a sport to watch — commercial-free, if you’re quick with the remote. ‘Go shopping for your snacks and beverages in advance,’ the host advised. The host, who will host a show from 2-5 p.m. ET, isn’t the only one who has displayed feats of stamina and fended off the body’s natural tendencies for things like sleep and bathroom breaks. Other endurance ’experts’ similarly stressed the importance of planning, proper diet and the benefit of community (and adrenaline) when attempting such a challenge. Even if it’s just on your couch. Here’s how to watch 15 straight hours (and then some) of the Olympic Games. New Year’s Eve in Times Square is a marathon of its own. Tourists wait long hours to see the ball drop at midnight, and the workers who control the crowds and keep everyone safe are there every minute of the way. An individual has helped oversee 17 New Year’s Eves with the Times Square Alliance in various roles. As the organization’s former director of public safety and now its president, they understand the need for proper coordination for a major event that involves camping out all day. Thoughtful preparation is key. ‘I try to break the day into smaller pieces (and) almost sort of phases,’ said the individual, who typically logs a 23-hour work day on New Year’s Eve. ‘The analogy I use is driving from New York to Florida. I break it down into a hundred miles at a time, and it seems like a shorter trip than if you look at a 1,200-mile trip. So one bite at a time.’ Watching Saturday’s Olympic slate will be a much smaller undertaking, but one can still apply the advice on planning. Namely, knowing the schedule of the marquee events will help. Particularly noteworthy is that American superstars Biles and Ledecky are expected to be back in action on Saturday, with Biles qualified for the vault final at 10:20 a.m. ET (which, by the way, is followed by the men’s pommel horse final, featuring new American hero Nedoroscik, at 11:16 a.m. ET). Ledecky, meanwhile, is favored to win the women’s 800-meter freestyle at 3:28 p.m. ET, which would tie her for the most gold medals by a female Olympian with nine. ‘This Games is extremely special because there are two women who are cementing their legacy as not only some of the greatest Olympians of all time, but two of the greatest American athletes of all time,’ the host said of Biles and Ledecky. Eight minutes before Ledecky jumps in the pool, the Stade de France hosts the women’s 100-meter final — in which Richardson is the favorite — at 3:20 p.m. ET. Throughout the day there are also medal events in archery, badminton, boxing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, surfing and table tennis in addition to athletics, gymnastics, swimming and tennis. Whew. There’s also the U.S. women’s soccer quarterfinal against Japan at 9 a.m. ET and the U.S. men’s basketball game against Puerto Rico at 11:15 a.m. ET, though no medals are on the line in those. So make a plan. Circling your priority events is recommended. You will not win a gold medal for viewing them all, so building in windows to squeeze in a short nap, grab a snack, or yes, even take a bathroom break, could help you avoid the pitfall of missing a key moment. Others noted that adrenaline is enough to keep them focused, but concentrating for a long time can also zap one’s energy reserve. An individual understands that balance well. In July, an individual won the World Series of Poker’s main event, a grueling, multi-week tournament in which they outlasted 10,111 other players to win $10 million. Their advice: Don’t sit too long. ‘You stand up during the breaks, but sometimes when I’m out of hands — a hand takes a while — I’ll stand up,’ they said. ‘It’s kind of like when you’re on an airplane, you gotta stand up and stretch your legs, so I’ll do that because I don’t like sitting in one place because I get anxious, I get restless.’ An individual, a race car driver who has competed in many endurance events, similarly said they plan time to recharge and rest up between their driving stretches. ‘I like to shower, (and) brush my teeth because you don’t know when you’re going to get another chance to do that,’ they said. ‘And just have my quiet time because that’s so important for me to get my head wrapped around my next stint.’ Pacing over a 15-hour schedule will be vital. Perhaps it means skipping the all-day golf event, which starts at 3 a.m. ET, and waiting for Sunday’s final round, or sneaking in a walk between the end of U.S. men’s basketball and when two-time shot put gold medalist Ryan Crouser goes for a three-peat (1:35 p.m. ET). To harken back to Step 1: Pacing requires planning, too. Added an individual: ‘You’ve gotta manage your brain, you can’t go too hard.’ Step 3: Have a pick-me-up Like another individual, an individual highlighted dental health. ‘The thing that is more rejuvenating than a nap is brushing your teeth,’ they said. ‘When you’ve been up for 24 hours, it’s life-changing. It’s even better than taking a nap.’ ‘And changing your socks,’ they continued. The experts also suggested a variety of snacks and beverages. One of them opts for water, applesauce pouches and sandwiches around the track, while another goes for heavier meals — a more classic carbo-load if you will — before getting in the car. An individual relied on orange juices and granola bars between dinner breaks while on their run to $10 million. One warning on that, though. ‘Don’t overdo the caffeine, because then you’re just going to crash even harder,’ another individual said. Step 4: Use the buddy system The host’s typical day has been well-documented and does not include snacking. Similarly, a person who played a soccer video game for 75 hours to set a world record said they barely ate or slept over the three days they gamed. That person said they stayed motivated and energized thanks to the support of their community. ‘I had people around me cheering me up,’ they said. ‘So the moment I started feeling weak or feeling bored, they started cheering me up, (so) that I’d just forget feeling bored and … I’d see that the time had gone.’ Meaning: Invite friends — the ones you trust will have the endurance. That person also said the success of achieving such a feat lies in ‘having passion for what you’re planning to do and putting your heart to it.’ That was a theme across interviews. The host, for example, seems to run on unwavering enthusiasm, which they have applied to the Olympics. An expert in their day job, the Olympics are an adjustment for the host. For one, it has commercials. And two, they’re on-air for less than half the time of their typical Sunday NFL spot. ‘I’ve got no bladder worries whatsoever,’ they said. They have also had to translate new terminology to an audience perhaps unfamiliar with the rules of rugby or fencing, and learn a whole new set of athlete names. But they spoke passionately about the Olympic storylines, like the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team winning their first medal on the final play of their match for bronze. ‘It was one of those unanticipated, jaw-dropping moments with a touch of patriotism,’ they said, ‘in that USA women’s rugby had never won a medal before that just brings people together in the best way that the Olympics can.’ Those committing to all-day Olympic viewing this weekend will be hoping for more memorable moments. And the host even offered a teaser for ‘RedZone’ fans watching the Paris Games. ‘If you’re a fan of ’the witching hour,’ there will be ‘golden hours’ coming your way this weekend,’ they said, referencing the half-hour window during NFL Sundays when ‘wins become losses and losses become wins.’ So sit back, relax, enjoy the Games with some food and friends, plan your bathroom breaks, and if a nap is needed, don’t forget to set an alarm.