Preparation in these final days is vital.
Mayo and Dublin will contest the All-Ireland final this Sunday and Alan Brogan knows better than most the routine the Dublin team will be following this week.
The three-time All-Ireland winner retired from intercounty football after Dublin’s win over Kerry in last year’s decider. The former Footballer of the Year talked to SportsJOE about the nutritional needs of a Gaelic football star ahead of the biggest game of the year.
Aside from carbohydrates and plenty of water, the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Rua clubman is a big fan of naps, boiled eggs and taking the right supplements.
“In the week leading into an All-Ireland final rest and nutrition become so important. Training-wise, all the heavy lifting is done so it is really just a case of fine tuning the skills. Focus-wise, players would place more emphasis on the rest and nutrition part of the preparation.”
“I always tried to ensure I was getting the full hour eight hours uninterrupted sleep every night. Anything over was a bonus, little cat naps during the day were good for relaxation also.”
“Hydration in the days leading into the game was critical, three or four litres of water a day would make sure hydration levels were where they should be. Again ensuring you were hydrated helped with sleep patterns and relaxation. It also helped alleviate those afternoon slumps.”
“I also ensured my supplement intake was spot on with Cleanmarine for Men being my all in one Omega 3 and multivitamin of choice.”
“From a food perspective I would try maintain and improve on what we do all year round. With busy lifestyles it is hard for GAA players to keep the diet spot on sometimes but in the week of an All-Ireland final there is no room for error.”
“Carbs were critical for me leading in the week of the match – porridge, honey and seeds for breakfast with fresh juice. If I had time in the morning I always enjoyed a boiled egg.”
“I regularly snack on nuts and berries during the day to ensure I don’t go hungry. For lunch I’d enjoy a high carb meal, maybe spuds, meat and veg or a pasta dish.”
“In the evening pre-training maybe a snack like a protein shake or bar with an energy drink or piece of fruit. Post-training again a high carb meal to help with recovery.”
“When you are training hard it is really about common sense, staying away from the fatty foods and planning your meal plan the day before. Staying hydrated as part of a meal plan cannot be underestimated.”
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