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07 june 2001
In the Summertime.

Thought I'd give you an idea of what the lads have been told to do during the off season. We all look forward to the summer but its important not to abuse it and keep yourself ticking over. Players are all different and some players are involved in international games so will be getting rest when they can. The training we will be doing during the summer is called "aerobic training".

"The purpose of aerobic training is to maximise your ability to use oxygen as an energy source during match play or training. The more aerobically fit you are, the greater the amount of energy can be supplied through the breakdown of fat, during exercise."

-That is an extract from Jon Goodman's close season training program so you can see we have got very professional this coming season. Something I am 100% behind.

We were advised to start around May 27th and the training consists of -

1. Fartlek running -- this means running at different intensities (speeds) throughout a given time usually 30 mins.

2. Interval running -- running to set times eg 2 mins half pace 1 min slow jog for 30 mins.

3. Leg Strength -- Various leg exercises to keep leg strength up obviously because they are our main assets and need constant attention. Also for injury prevention when we return to full training.

We have been advised by Jon to do these running and strengthening sessions 2-3 times a week, alternating between Fartlek and Interval running. Personally during the first third week of the off season I have done one of the running sessions and played tennis one day as I said in my last entry and played the physio Steve Allen at squash on Friday the 1st June (lost by the way, he's a mean squash player probably best at the club).

I think the players are all reporting back on 29th June this year which is one day later than we first thought. It's always good to get back and get new kit, maybe a new number (I want to get one in the first eleven this year) and see some new faces. We have had quite a few changes in the backroom staff this year so I'm anticipating a big meeting about new roles at the club on the first day. It'll also be interesting when Goody checks everyone's weight and body fat percentage, just hope I haven't gone up much at all.

On a different issue my contract with my boot sponsors "Valsport" was up on June 1st but I received a letter from them asking me to sign up again which I will do for the sole reason that the boots fit me better than any other brand. I have really wide feet and other brands tend to split after only a few games. Recently Valsport have been sowing my initials GA into the tongue so that's a nice touch. Maybe I'll ask for W.T. to be sown in this year!

Hope this has given you a small insight into summer for the players and I'll let you know how things go leading up to the start of pre-season.

Gareth.

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