Suns midfielder runs marathon in off-season, brings new speed to game
Gold Coast midfielder Maddy Brancatisano ran her first marathon in January and says the training improved her fitness.
Maddy Brancatisano came from a running family and just wanted to test herself over 42.2 kilometres. The 26-year-old Suns midfielder got her club's clearance and spent 10 weeks training with a coach during the off-season gap.
Maddy Brancatisano finished Hobart's marathon in three hours 50 minutes in January. The effort paid off on field: she said the aerobic fitness and mental toughness from running 42 kilometres gave her a base she'd never had before.
She can now run longer and cover ground with better speed. The vice-captain has been integral to Gold Coast's dramatic rise from 18th last year, and she's already eyeing her next marathon.
- 26 years old
- Brancatisano's age
- 42.2km in 3 hours 50 minutes
- Marathon distance and time
- 10 weeks
- Training duration
- Ryan Hoffman
- Coach name
Why it mattersBrancatisano's story shows how off-season training can directly boost on-field performance, and how players are finding creative ways to push themselves during the long gap between seasons.
AustraliaGold Coast Suns are contending in AFLW this year, with Brancatisano as a key mid helping drive their elevation through the competition.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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