News

Athletics End of Year Report News: other

Posted On 11th Dec 2025
Posted By Athletics
[Galway (All Clubs) campus]
Author Laura Broderick (Super Admin)

This year saw significant development in our training structure as we worked to better support athletes—particularly those aiming to compete indoors and outdoors. To meet the increasing commitment within the group, we expanded our weekly schedule beyond the traditional two sessions, ensuring all athletes had adequate opportunities to complete their full training programme.

Weekly Training Structure

Monday – Speed Development (Mervue)
Focus on acceleration, mechanics, and pure speed.

Tuesday – Speed Endurance (Mervue)
Longer reps targeting race-specific conditioning.

Wednesday – Rest Day / Make-Up Session (Mervue)
For athletes who missed Monday: Special speed and technique-focused work.

Thursday – Strength & Conditioning (Limitless Gym, Ballybane)
Newly introduced S&C block including:
• HIIT
• Explosive power development
• Injury-prevention work
This session provides variety, a change of environment, and valuable team building.
Thursday is also available as a track make-up session for athletes who miss earlier sessions.

Saturday – Open Training (3–5 PM)
Added to accommodate those balancing college, part-time work, or travel commitments.

Training Philosophy

Ideally, each athlete completes:
2–3 track sessions weekly
1 Strength & Conditioning session
Training includes acceleration, speed endurance, special speed, blocks, hurdles, and technical development.

Facilities & Future Development

Following the recent county board meeting, clubs have been advised to contact Des Ryan regarding the use of Dangan Track. This opens the door to potentially accessing a full 400m track again—an important step for athletes preparing for 100m, 200m, 400m, and hurdles, as Mervue is limited for competition-specific work.

We are also considering a trip to TUS to gain valuable practice time on an indoor track and access to field event facilities.

Additional Opportunities for Athletes

  • Strength & Conditioning Programme:
    €15 for 6 weeks at Limitless Gym, excellent value and highly beneficial for performance and injury reduction.

  • Warm-Weather Training Camp:
    Athletes have the option to join West Coast’s annual warm-weather training. Last year’s camp was extremely successful and helped keep motivation high during the winter months.

  • Student Club Membership:
    At a reduced rate of €50 (€26.50 to Athletics Ireland, €23.50 to West Coast), membership gives students full access to competitions throughout the year and helps maintain a united training group.

Looking Ahead

Our goal moving forward is to be as competitive as possible for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. With the expanded programme, strong attendance, and improved access to facilities, we are well positioned for continued progress.

To strengthen our team identity, we will also be encouraging a fundraising initiative, with the aim of providing half-zips for our athletes so they can present as a unified squad at competitions, matching the standards of other colleges.

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