Catching up

Fr. Jessip

Hi all

I thought I should post this here because I think the athletics lads would have more of an understanding.

With my GAA clubs matches just around the corner i'm not in the shape i should be.

I've put on the guts of a stone and am not fit for running around. my sprint speed is alright but my stamina is shocking.

How often should i do interval running training per week, taking into account that i could be training/matches 3 or four times a week and that i need rest days.

Btw though the matches are starting now June is the most important time for me to be flying fit.

Any help welcome

BrokenMan

If its your stamina thats suffering you may be better off doing some steady runs as opposed to intervals.

RoyMcC

Intervals would have been the thing to do, starting a couple of months ago; together with a food & drink review there is no better way of getting in shape.

You could still fit a session in on the days before training - just let coach know what you're doing so he can make allowances if you're struggling a bit. Otherwise, as BM says, a bit of steady running is the safe option.

Fr. Jessip

thanks lads

is there a max number of days i could do the steady or interval runs.

i can cope with being tired in training etc, the main thing is having the fitness in june

any when u say steady run , how long (distance or speed) and what & should i be going at?

kennyb3

I'd say put down the chocolate bars, scones and pints and continue on with your GAA training and you should be fine.

Fr. Jessip

:rolleyes:

there's always one...

kennyb3

Fr. Jessip wrote: »

:rolleyes:

there's always one...

I couldn't resist.:D

Seriously though, why did you put on the weight? Injury? Over eating & drinking?

I ask because you ll only end up wearing yourself out trying to do too much if its constantly battling against overeating.

Fr. Jessip

I've always been carrying a bit though nothin major but a combo of injury, break from exercise, snacking and sparadic eating (which was generally of the worst type of food) meant i put on more.


I know food is a big part of it but im just trying to see what is the best way of improving fitness between now and june

finding the bridge between not enough and over doing it.

kennyb3

Fr. Jessip wrote: »

I've always been carrying a bit though nothin major but a combo of injury, break from exercise, snacking and sparadic eating (which was generally of the worst type of food) meant i put on more.


I know food is a big part of it but im just trying to see what is the best way of improving fitness between now and june

finding the bridge between not enough and over doing it.

In that case, just a mix of healthier eating and more running should set you right.

Maybe an hour easy on grass building up by 15 mins per week to 2 hours and another half hour easy a different day. Still leaves you with 1/2 days recovery. Plenty of easy running that doesnt compromise the GAA training or cause you to get fatigued and injured again.

Fr. Jessip

kennyb3 wrote: »

In that case, just a mix of healthier eating and more running should set you right.

Maybe an hour easy on grass building up by 15 mins per week to 2 hours and another half hour easy a different day. Still leaves you with 1/2 days recovery. Plenty of easy running that doesnt compromise the GAA training or cause you to get fatigued and injured again.

sounds gud, around what kind of percent do ya call easy?

Cleanman

I play a lot of GAA and I spent the end of 2009 and almost six months of 2010 with a bad back injury which left me in bits after training and games. As a result, I started training less (and at a lower intensity) but kept eating as if I was training with the county!! For the first time in my life, the weight piled on and I was a stone overweight only a month before championship last year.

So in an effort to find a way of training without pain (it was sprinting and sharp turns that got me) I starting jogging for a few minutes just once a week with an hour of core work and stretching afterwards. I started off with just 20 mins LIGHT jogging on grass and gradually increased the distance and pace. I only worked it up to 45 mins running, but combined with a slightly healthier diet, I lost the weight and was flying within a couple months.

If you're not used to running on the road, then stay clear at this stage of the year. It's much easier on the body to run on grass and if you start off easy, you'll have no problem recovering if you have a training session the next night.

That's what worked for me anyway. Although, I'd attribute as much of my fitness last year to the core work after my runs as to the running itself.

Good luck with it. Remember not to rush it, if you train consistently, there is plenty of time until June:D

Fr. Jessip

thanks lads

did 3 miles on grass today and felt good after it!