Cork camogie captain Joanne O 'Callaghan tells Patricia Weston that her legs are always destroyed with bruises, but it's worth it
How often do you train?
I train three times a week with my club and three times a week with my county team, Cork. A typical training session lasts about an hour and a half and involves a good warm-up, some speed walking and shuttle running where you run to a bollard and back to improve speed. We then do strength work like lunges, press-ups and squats and lots of stretching after the cool down.
Do you do core strengthening exercises?
Yes, the team has taken Pilates classes. I found them brilliant because I suffer from back pain and Pilates really made a difference and strengthened up my back. It was painful at first but now I don't have any back problems at all.
Have you suffered any other injuries?
For the past two weeks I've had tendonitis in my knee, which was very painful. This affected my training so I took up aqua jogging which is where you get in the deep end of the pool, tie a belt around you and jog.
What's your diet like?
I make sure I include fruit and vegetables every day and I eat lots of brown bread. I'm not a big meat eater. I eat very well during the summer when I'm training and I don't drink alcohol. Once the season is over I can relax a bit.
Are you conscious about how you look?
Well, no, not really. It's a rough sport so my legs are always destroyed with bruises. I wouldn't really want to be vain; bruised and battered legs don't look so great in a skirt! As long as I feel good and feel healthy, I think I look good. I would never have plastic surgery, I couldn't stand the pain.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Re-create one of Joanne's gruelling training sessions and get the benefit of a high intensity fat-burning workout:
Train in a large open area like a football pitch or field. Do a 10-minute warm-up by walking at a light to moderate speed to stretch your muscles. As you walk, raise your knees and swing your arms.
Place a jumper or pair of trainers at the field's halfway point and sprint to it and back for 10-15 minutes.
Walk at a moderate pace kicking your legs behind you as you perform bicep curls for five minutes.
Perform two sets of leg lunges for eight counts on each leg.
Lie on your back, keeping your legs straight and extended out in front of you, then raise them up off the ground slowly and hold. Repeat this eight times.
Finally cool down and stretch with a gentle five-minute walk.
pweston@eircom.net
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before starting any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.