“It’s weird at the moment because we don’t know if there’s any Championship going to be played”
There are plenty of us who are are missing being able to get to the gym as normal at the moment. Online classes are proving a great substitute, but it’s not quite the same as having the right equipment to hand. And, it’s just that little bit harder to push ourselves when we’re exercising two feet from our couch!
For those who play team sports the change is even harder – the camaraderie of training with your squad is half of the fun/motivation. But what is being in lockdown like for those elite athletes for whom sport is not just a hobby, it’s more of a vocation?
All-Ireland winner and four-time camogie All-Star Katie Power is used to having a strict training schedule to stick to. She’s been playing camogie “since before she can remember” and has been on the Kilkenny team from the age of 15. Kate spoke to me about her lockdown routine, and you can watch the video below or on Her’s Instagram.
As committed athletes and close friends, Katie says that the squad have been finding lockdown tough. The 2020 senior camogie championship was originally due to kick off on June 13, with the All-Ireland final scheduled for September 6.
Right now, all matches and training are suspended pending the Government’s update on May 5. However, the Camogie Association has said it intends to complete all competitions planned for the year – which means teams need to keep their training up even while they are staying apart and at home.
For Katie, the change to her weekly routine has been huge. When the social distancing advice was first put in place, she moved out of her apartment in Kilkenny city and home to her parents’ house.
She’s found that training on her own isn’t as much fun as when she’s with her teammates – she misses the feeling after a good training session and “the craic” with the girls. They have, however, managed to partake in a quiz via video chat like the rest of us!
As well as being an All-Star, Katie works two jobs. She is a qualified personal trainer and advises on nutrition at the gym of Kilkenny legend TJ Reid. While she misses team training sessions, she confesses that she’s actually enjoyed switching up her personal workout routine via online classes.
Katie is also putting together some exclusive exercise routines for workouts at home, as well as mindfulness tips and tricks for Littlewoods Ireland, which is a proud sponsor of the Camogie Leagues.
