KEEPING IT SHARP TO STAY IN SHAPE

A HEAVY diet of running and simple activities that can be performed at home is keeping Geelong players fit during the coronavirus shutdown.

Cats players cleared out all their belongings from GMHBA Stadium on March 23 and were given a week to run their own race before being handed a regimented fitness program on Sunday.

While they spend time away from the game itself, there is little chance the Cats will put their feet up, having been tasked with running about 7km four days a week.

Players are even sharing their run data online with each other to promote accountability and help motivate teammates to keep hitting strong results.

Outside of that, weights sessions and simple gym activities like burpees and squat jumps are being used to stay in shape.

The schedule keeps a similar routine to the highly structured AFL life.

Tom Atkins said the schedule was pretty packed.

“We are running Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and that’s with weights on Tuesday and Thursday,” Atkins said.

“There will be a few weights sessions as well as those running sessions on the same day as well.”

Geelong players have been told they can only train with one other person. Atkins was joined by Gryan Miers earlier this week to kick a football around at the start of a running session to maintain touch.

There has been no direction for players to stick to certain diets, with trust in place to stay away from fatty foods or too many beers.

The players’ WhatsApp group has been getting a workout as the Cats keep in touch and push each other along.

“We’ve got a WhatsApp group that we’ve been hitting up pretty consistently,” Atkins told the Addy.

“There are blokes who are posting videos after they run.

“It’s more for a laugh than anything else, but it’s good to see that blokes are doing the work.

“We also have a Strava group set up. It’s connected up to your Garmin watch and after your run that goes online.

“There’s no obligation on the players to post what they are doing, but it definitely helps to see that other people are doing the work.”