Hi John,
As you are also a running (athletics) coach, I was wondering if you could help me with some kind of training program. I am 24 years old and haven't competed for a couple of years now due to a knee injury and having a baby. I am very eager to get back into training and competing, but am not sure what type of training program I should begin with. I used to run 200m and 400m and also 800m (I never really chose which one to specialize in). I would be very grateful for your help!
Theresa Boucher - Davis(From your old home town of Tassie!)
Dear Theresa,
I am very pleased to see that you are getting back into running. Like football, athletics is a great sport and participation is the best reward of all. With all exercise, start gradually and keep realistic goals as to what you wish to achieve.
I would strongly recommend that you find yourself a coach. In Tasmania your best port of call is the Coaches Association who may be contacted through Athletics Tasmania in Hobart. There are some very experienced coaches in Tassie and I have every confidence they will be able to assist you in your return to running.
All the best.
JQ
Hi John,
I am involved in coaching at Ivanhoe Assumption Amateur Football club & I would like your opinion on a couple of questions specific to our standard of football.
I am interested in ways amateur footballers can maintain a level of fitness & strength during the season. Our resources & time constraints are as follows:
We have an oval, a gym with flat & incline bench press with free weights, five sets of dumbells with free weights, biceps bar with free weights & two flat padded benches.
During the season we have a recovery session on Monday nights (1 hour) & train on Wednesday nights for two hours & Thursday for 45 mins to an hour. Obviously during the Wednesday & Thursday session we will be doing skills drills.
Another question relating to this is on the lead up to finals do you think it's necessary to do extra fitness work to gain an advantage? If so when (4 weeks before the finals or during the finals)? I would be grateful for your input.
Bill McDonald
Macca,
I appreciate the time constraints that you have and understand that it is difficult to fit all training in. My answer to this is – don’t! If you have limited time do limited but quality training. It is immaterial that such and such club is training twice as much as you or whatever.
From looking at your program, my first recommendation to you would be to ask if there is any possible way to get a days break between your skill sessions. The best option would be Monday recovery, Tuesday skill, Wednesday rest and Thursday skill. If not, do the best that you can with quality training on the days allocated.
It is a good question in regards to training during the finals. (optimistic too, which is as it should be!!!). By the time the finals come around you will not be getting your players any fitter. All you can do is sharpen them up. Shorter work at a faster rate is always my preference. You can hold a peak for about six weeks – so make sure you don’t go too soon!
All the best to IAAFC for season 2002.
JQ
Dear John,
Hi John, Your 8 Week training sessions so far are great for me as I am a fitness instructor with a large Gym in the Sth Eastern suburbs. Can you please tell me what contrast baths are?
Julie Ann Colangelo
Dear Julie,
Contrast baths are alternating between hot and cold tubs. The general recommendation is hot at 38 degrees and cold at less than 13 degrees. Do 30 seconds in the cold followed by three minutes in the hot and repeat by 3. It is a great form of recovery.
An alternate to this form of recovery is contrast showers.
JQ
