PAT FLANAGAN IS driving out to a session with the Laois hurlers when he answers the phone.
It’s a busy week for one of the country’s most respected coaches.
Then again, once you’ve worked with two All-Ireland winning Kerry teams, there are very few quiet weeks.
The strength and conditioning guru with the Waterford hurlers for the last three seasons, Flanagan was recently drafted in to Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s backroom team for 2014.
On Sunday, he is back on club duty with Kerry giants Dr Crokes as they bid for for a third straight title against Cratloe in the AIB Munster Club Football Final.
And as if that wasn’t enough, tomorrow, Flanagan heads up the second in a series of one-day conferences focused on a simple question with a not-so-simple answer.
What’s the best way to train?
“GAA training is gone very professional and even club training is gone very serious,” Flanagan says as he explains the idea behind the ‘Peak Talks’ series.
“Basically, everyone is expected now to know all the right things and all the right science.
“The idea is to bring seven or eight experts together in one day dealing with psychology, diet, performance, lifestyle, how to be a better sports star and to reach your peak performance.”
Those experts include Clare hurling fitness coach Joe O’Connor, former Cavan football manager Val Andrews, former IRFU director of fitness Dr Liam Hennessey and boxing coach Jimmy Payne.
The workshop, Flanagan stresses, are aimed not only at coaches or elite athletes but at anyone looking to learn about best practice from those in the know and improve their physical performance.
“It came about through years of people asking questions about what sort of training elite athletes should do and should we be copying rugby or soccer or Gaelic football,” Flanagan said.
“What’s the best way to train?”
Peak Essentials takes place tomorrow, Saturday 30 November, at The Malton, Killarney from 9.15am-5.15pm. For more information and to book your early bird place online for €95 visit www.peakfitness.ie or call Peak Fitness on 051-373942.
