Chesapeake Bayhawks’ attackman/midfielder Colin Heacock knows he’s living a dream. Raised just outside of Baltimore in Catonsville, Heacock grew up watching the Bayhawks—who began as the Baltimore Bayhawks in 2001. He loves that his friends and family can see his games in Annapolis at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium so easily. However, as he enters his third season with the Major League Lacrosse team, Heacock also understands that staying in shape for peak performance is vital. He puts his trust in his older brother, Ryan, to give him a solid workout nearly every day of the week. They have been working out together since high school.
“My only job right now is lacrosse. (I have to) stay in tip-top shape, so that I can perform at my best. Some days, you don’t really feel like doing it but it feels rewarding after.”
How many days a week do you workout?
I try to do something every day, whether it’s lifting or something else. Typically, I try to go three days straight and then take that fourth day to do recovery, whether it’s running or something else. I try to stay active, given that my only job is lacrosse.
Who do you work out with?
My brother works out with me. He’s the magician behind all of it. I like his plans and like what he’s saying, and he incorporates stuff that I can carry with me onto the field. The Bayhawks also have some local guys; sometimes Nick Manis [short stick defensive midfielder] and I will work out together—it’s just finding the time and figuring out where we will meet. Sometimes, during the season, we’ll go back to College Park [Heacock and Manis are both Maryland alumni] to work out.
Walk us through a typical workout. We’ll be in there between an hour and a half to two hours, depending on what my brother has planned. We’ll get in there and start by warming up our muscles to loosen up the body, then lift. I try not to do the same thing every single workout, so one week we’ll do something like back and biceps and then chest and triceps. The next week, he’ll mix it up and do chest and legs. Then we’ll get a little bit of cardio in there.
What type of cardio do you prefer?
There’s one called an Assault AirBike—it gets everything. It kills your body. But we’ll run on the treadmill, or we’ll go outside and run on the field and shoot a little bit.
Do you do anything differently during the lacrosse season, compared to during the off-season?
During the season, I stretch a little bit more. If we play on a Saturday, I probably won’t lift weights on a Sunday. Instead, I’ll go down to College Park to see my trainer, Anthony. He’ll help me recover, so the following week I can go back to lifting weights, shooting, and be at 100 percent.
How do your workouts have an impact on your on-field performance?
My only job right now is lacrosse. (I have to) stay in tip-top shape, so that I can perform at my best. Some days, you don’t really feel like doing it but it feels rewarding after. By the time the season comes around, you’ve been taking care of your body, and it prevents injuries. It plays a huge role in my performance.
