Hey!

Grobbelaar

Hey People,

Hope your all well! Im big into the GAA and just recently decided to bulk up for it.Luckily for me the girlfriend is a personal trainer so she is working wonders for me I had a pretty skinny frame so started lifting small/light weights but now 3 months later I've built up alot and Im lifting far above what I ever expected.

I work out three times a week(mainly weights upper/lower body and core work along with quick warm up and cool down run...plus drink protein shak after every work out) and just started doing one mile runs weekly too.I always had a good engine,It's best my quality regards to Football.Im currently at about 6 minute mile pace which isint too bad for this time of year and I do my runs and boggy/water filled GAA pitches

The pre-season for the GAA starts mid January and first month or so will be fitness based training...probadly 2/3 weekly workout...each work out 90 minutes or mainly running (good times!! ) I wonder is it possible to keep my bulk with regaining my running legs? My girlfriend thinks i'll probadly lose a bit of muscle but if I keep up my 3 weekly weight sessions and continue drinking my protein shakes it should be very little loss)

She's always right but thought I'd ask here if anyone here has advice or experience on the subject? I like to keep my newly found muscle and get myself running same as before I still think my best quality will be sped and endurance but strength will be vital too!

Thanks lads,

Pete

jambi

Not sure about keeping your bulk - you'd probably want to up your calorie intake if you're going to be doing significantly more training. With regard to maintaining strength, which is what I'd be more concerned with, that is certainly do-able. As is increasing strength in-season. You just have to keep doing the weights workouts. On the nights you're not doing the GAA training, do strength focused weights training. And adjust your calorie intake to account for the additional training.

Vampireskiss

The best exercises that you should be doing are the squat, deadlift and bench press,do these with good form ,lift heavy and get plenty of good food in and you will grow

Grobbelaar

Thanks Jambi and vampireskiss,

Ah yeah I think strength is the main thing really..I'll continue on with my weight programme along with the extra running..I'll eat right and continue with the proetin shakes and should be grand!

I actually noticed a thread further down regards guy asking about running a marathon while doing weightlifting and found the advice on that thread(as well as this one) very helpful! Thanks

Pete

mloc

I'm just wondering why you are doing long runs, are you doing a lot of sprinting and stop/start work as well?

Grobbelaar

Hey mloc Im just doing longer runs to increase the endurance...though as pre-season comes closer I'll start doing more sprint work and running shorter distances.I do think though that long distance running is vital for GAA..pretty much lays down the foundation.Usually as footie preseason goes we start off doing alot of endurance work(long runs etc) and then after month or so slowly begin to work on speed