Well for me, it's nice to get acclimatized. I'm told 3 days at the altitudes I'll be hiking in, though I never seem to do so.
Like you, I drink plenty of water before and during. Lots of water to me is pretty bland so I've been using instant sugared tea to help the taste some.
I always have to tell myself from time to time that I'm not in some forced death march and I get there when I get there. So easy does it till I do.