Liam FitzGerald

Endurance athlete rebuilding from the ground up

18-month foundation | Walking → Hiking → Running → UTMB (eventually)

🇬🇧 in 🇵🇱 | Sometimes #nufc takes over

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

If you're new here, I'm Liam.

6 months ago, I read a post by @inakidelaparra and decided to burn the boats.

No more 12-week plans. No more boom-bust cycles.

Just an 18-month commitment to build real, lasting fitness.

Here's what I'm learning:

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

@GuruAnaerobic I've got the trail version (kipmaxxxxx or something) with the same foam and they are lovely to run and walk in (including being in them for a 60km hike).

Plan on getting the road shoes when the time is right!

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

You know what feels good?

Riding the bike.

So good. Even on the turbo.

I think after those months of relentless walking and prep for that 60km mountain hike it feels good to move in a different way (football excluded).

"Multisport life" is the way.

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

I've recently entered the world of carrying a bag instead of shoving all the things in my pockets.

It took a moment to move out of that middle...

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

This week, a continuation of the theme, continuing to do the work. Daily mobility now the pattern is set. 5 walks and one football match, the last of the season. Maybe some other stuff as the feeling takes me!

Let's get after it!

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

It's Monday morning, so here's a look back at week 1 of the @inaki_delaparra Walk/Jog-Run plan.

Back to consistency.

4 Walks
4 Mobility
1 Football Match (45mins)
KCal 1736
5h43m of work

More to come this week!

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

Last week I wrote about how sometimes the metrics can say things are all good, yet in the real world, they're not!

https://t.co/HzQDmHRUhs

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

Lovely surprise.

Liam, welcome back after 6 weeks out, you're starting left wing... Uh wotttt?

(Moved to left back when a centre back had to go off injured).

A little warm to be running up and down and up and down.

Came off after 45 due to blowing.

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

Happy Sunday!

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

@warsawwhite I actually think that the majority of B Klasa pitches will genuinely be better than them.

Ours is mid level for our league and it's pretty damn good.

Some of the ones we've played on this season have been like carpet.

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

Link to today's post, if you're interested:

https://t.co/4wIEKLk3ap

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

Last week every metric said I was recovered.

HRV back to baseline. Soreness gone. Heart rate normal.Everything pointing the same direction: go.I was wrong.

The signals that proved it didn't show up on any dashboard.

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

@Alan_Couzens I remember listening to @JonnyWilkinson talking about this after reaching the peak of sport (yeah, that kick against your lot) and how it wasn't enough.

He won it all, became the best in the world, achieved everything he ever wanted to and it wasn't enough. Fascinating.

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

@SteAssent Yeah, but, my identity (plus algorithms favour my polarised views).

[Liam FitzGerald @LiamTFitzG]

@jakekellymd @Alan_Couzens Just about sums it all up.

Heavily in a withdrawal phase over here right now!

[Alan Couzens @Alan_Couzens]

A question I get all the time:

"I have a busy life, and I only have a few hours to train each week. Shouldn't I make them count by going harder?"

No.

See, your body doesn't separate training stress from life stress.

If you're carrying a full-time job, poor sleep, family responsibilities, and financial stress, your "stress bank account" is already running too low for high-intensity training....

You're broke!

Your adaptation reserves are already being spent!

My latest...

Why Too Much Intensity Breaks Athletes:
Understanding Adaptation Energy

[Iñaki de la Parra @inaki_delaparra]

The same work does not always cost the same. The output may look identical, but the internal price can be completely different.

The question is not only: what did you produce? But: what did it cost the system?

Output without context is a dangerous story, toughness is not forcing the original plan, but noticing when the environment has changed & adapting before the system breaks.

More 🧵