Fraser Young

[Fraser Young]

Recovery from illness

9 December

ILL

My nausea has cleared up but I’m getting a fever at night and still have a very chesty cough. I did two 10 minute walks around the block and I feel like I’ve pulled my left hip flexor, possibly straining it from vomiting.

10 December

Hex Bar DL – 3 x 60kg, 2 x 80kg, 8 x 90kg

I was in bed until midday, more night fevers and very restless sleep. I weighed in at 66.3kg today, down 3.5kg in a week. I’m very aware of the muscle loss from bed rest and inactivity, especially combined with a low protein diet, so I wanted to do a single work set of a compound lift. I was sluggish in the warm up and didn’t push the reps but feel it’s at least some stimulus for my body.

The plan is to get back to work tomorrow and eat 3 normal meals.

11 December

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Reverse Walkouts – 3 x 5
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 3 x 5

I only did one pair of exercises, still not feeling great. I’m a bit concerned that I’ve strained a muscle as I feel weak when I try to exercise. I’ve only just built up my calories and my glycogen will likely be depleted so I’ll have a large breakfast tomorrow.

12 December

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Hip Internal Rotation Series – 3 x 20
Linear Decel, Lateral Push Out – 3 x 6
OH Laterals – 3 x 15 secs
Lateral Bound DB Punch lvl 1 – 3 x 6 x 3.5kg
Split Stance Contrast Jumps – 3 x 4 x 7kg / band
Single Leg Elevated Hip Thrust – 3 x 8
Pistol Squats – 3 x 6
Hex Bar DL – 8 x 80kg (belted)

Short on time and really pleased with the intensity I could manage here. I’ll be sore tomorrow but I’m back to eating normally and physically about 80%. I finished with a set of DL to continue waking my legs up, my lower back felt weak after Tues so I put my weight belt on as a precaution. Excited for zone 2 tomorrow as fitness will be where I need the most improvement. Still feverish at night and a lingering cough.

13 December

Exercise Bike – 35 mins (level 6, 90-100 Watts)

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Reverse Walkouts – 3 x 5
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 3 x 5 x 1.25kg
Core Decel COD – 3 x 5 x 5kg
Slant Board RDL Rotations – 3 x 8
Core Rotation Pallof Press – 3 x 5 (resistance band)
Lateral Line – 3 x 5

I was surprised by just how little effort I needed on the exercise bike to drive my heart rate up. I’m continuing to recover but it feels like another 3-5 days before my sleep and recovery numbers from my wearable return to baseline. I don’t mind repeating phase 3, I will open with a broad jump and see how close I can get to 252cm, which was what I managed the first time round (2 weeks ago). I’ve lost around 3.5kg so it remains to be seen what that has done to my performance.

[Fraser Young]

Phase 3 – Week 1

30 November

Broad Jump, 5 – best of 252cm
90/90 Hip Lift – 1 x 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
A Walk, March, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 15m
Bounds – 2 x 20m
Skips for Distance – 2 x 20m
Skips for Height – 2 x 20m
Accel March w Waist Harness – 2 x 10m x 45kg sled
Accel Bound w Waist Harness – 2 x 10m x 30kg sled
Accel March Bound Run – 2 x 15m x 30kg sled
Posture Hold – 2 x 10 secs
Band Resisted Load and Lift – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w/ Switch – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w/ 3x Switch – 2 x 3
Kneeling PVC 4 Step – 2 reps
7 Cone Kneeling No PVC – 4 reps
Heavy Resistance Sprint – 4 x 5m x 45kg
Medium Resistance Sprint – 3 x 10m x 30kg
3 point ISO hold – 3 x 5 secs
2 pt sprint – 2 x 10m
3 pt sprint – 2 x 10m
2 pt sprint – 2 x 20m
3 pt sprint – 2 x 20m
Non CM Versatile Rim Touch – 3 x 5
A1 Alternating Reverse Plank – 3 x 8
A2 TKE Partial Squat – 3 x 10

Wet track, 12 degrees, +3 m/s wind. What a session! I had to take weight plates with me to the track along with 100 other things, it ended up being close to 3 hours from start to finish. The sled runs are nicer on the track than on grass, but not much difference. I found it hard to measure broad jump as I’ve seen footage where my feet slip on impact, making it seem like I’ve jumped further than I have. However, I was conservative and feel like 252cm is fair. Some fast times in the 20m sprints, around 3.05 secs going through 10m in 1.80 secs (no reaction time), though with a healthy tailwind. It felt like a lot of volume which is great, I was still feeling fast by the time it came to the 2pt and 3pt starts. Relieved it was quite warm for the time of year and not raining, I may not be so lucky next week.

1 December

REST

My cough is getting worse so I skipped my upper body today.

2 December

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Reverse Walkouts – 3 x 5
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 3 x 5 x 1.25kg
Core Decel COD – 3 x 5
Slant Board RDL Rotations – 3 x 8
Core Rotation Pallof Press – 3 x 5
Lateral Line – 3 x 5

I continue to feel rough, luckily this was only 20 minutes and not challenging. I feel like I’m over the worst of my symptoms and that tomorrow can be back to normal.

3 December

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
A Walk, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 15m
ACK, Bleed, SL Bound to High Knee Dribble – 2 x 20m
3 point ISO hold (5 secs) – 10m
Wickets – 4 x 20m in ~2.38 secs (Freelap)
20m Build 20m Fly – 4 x 20m in ~2.28 secs (1.16 / 1.12)
Curvilinear Run Level 1 – 3 x 40m
Stiffness Skips – 3 x 2 x 20m
Bosch Snatch – 3 x 4
Nordic Eccentrics – 3 x 6
Airborne Lunge – 3 x 8 x 8kg

Wet track, 4 degrees, no wind. I really enjoyed this session despite a persistent cough, meaning I would rather have stayed on the sofa. With only a 20m build up I was still accelerating for the 20m flying run and so the second 10m was faster. The tutorial video said to expect to reach 90-95% speed by the start of the run which is roughly what I’m managing. Overall it was a good session and relatively straightforward compared to some of the days where I’m doing 20 different exercises.

4 December

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Reverse Walkouts – 3 x 5
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 3 x 5 x 1.25kg
Core Decel COD – 3 x 5
Slant Board RDL Rotations – 3 x 8
Core Rotation Pallof Press – 3 x 5
Lateral Line – 3 x 5

5-9 December

ILL

I had Norovirus (winter vomiting bug) from the afternoon of 4th until the morning of the 9th. Only 200-500 calories on each of those full days, also in hospital on the 5th as I couldn’t hold down liquid and needed an IV.

The illness taken a lot out of me and I still haven’t shaken the cough. For now, the plan is to do a very scaled down version of training this week, and then try to pick up on Phase 3 Week 1 from Saturday 14th.

[Fraser Young]

Phase 2 – Week 2

23 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Shin Angle Flow – 8 reps
Mirror Reaction – 3 x 15 secs
A Walk, March, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 10m each
Skips for Distance – 2 x 20m
Waist Harness March – 2 x 10m x 45kg
Waist Harness Accel Bound – 2 x 10m x 30kg
Waist Harness March/Bound/Run – 2 x 15m x 30kg
Posture Hold – 2 x 10 secs
Banded Load and Lift – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w Switch – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w Triple Switch – 2 x 5
4 Step Accel – 4 reps
Heavy Sled Sprint – 4 x 5m x 45kg
Non-CM Contrast Jumps – 3 x 4
Banded Straight Leg Pull Through – 3 x 8
Oscillating RLESS – 3 x 30 secs x 5kg

Cold and rainy so I didn’t enjoy that at all. I was soaked through doing the sled work and tried my best to stay focused on correct execution of all the exercises.

24 November

Med Ball Chest Pass – 3 x 8
Med Ball Slams – 3 x 8
A1 Bench Press – 4 x 4 x 90kg
A2 Clap Push ups – 4 x 5
Pendlay Rows – 3 x 8 x 80kg
B1 Pull ups – 3 x 6 x 10kg
B2 DB OHP – 3 x 6 x 22.5kg

Felt strong.

25 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 7
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 40 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 6
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 8

Didn’t see the increase in reps so had to go back and do extra.

26 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Barefoot Freestyle – 4 mins
Hip Flip Series – 2 x 20m
A Walk, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 10m each
ACK, Bleed, SL Bound to High Knee Dribble – 2 x 20m each
3 Position ISO Holds – 3 reps
Wickets – 6 x 20m in 2.35-2.40 secs Freelap timed
40 yd Technical Build Up – 3 x 40m, last 10m in 1.11 secs Freelap timed
Box Drop Progressions – 3 x 4
Hip Extension Pulses – 3 x 15 secs
SL Box Step Down – 3 x 8 x 8kg
Nordic Eccentrics – 3 x 5
Kickstand Soleus Raise – 3 x 20 x 8kg

Wet track, 8 degrees, cross wind. Great session, sunny day and no headwind to contend with. The wickets felt much more natural with the new spacing and I was in a good rhythm. The 40’s were solid, I was getting ~5.40 secs for 40m which is crazy given how submaximal my first 10 metres is. Looking ahead to phase 3 it will be 2 track sessions which will be nice, though lugging 45kg of weight plates from the car will be a bit of a chore.

27 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 7
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 40 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 6
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 8

Woke up with a sore throat so just got through this with as little effort as possible.

28 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Band SL Raise – 10 reps
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 10 x 1.25kg
Hip Bridge Reach Across – 10 reps
Spiral Elasticity – 10 x 1.25kg
Lateral Line – 10 reps
Barefoot Freestyle – 4 mins
AI Walks – 2 x 10 reps
Nervous System Blaster – 3 x 15 secs
1-2 Push Out Accel/Repeat – 3 x 2 reps
Tennis Ball Shoulder Drop COD – 2 x 4 reps
Hip Flip Tennis Ball COD – 2 x 4 reps
Angled Bounds – 4 x 1 set
Band Rapid Lateral Level 1 – 3 x 8
A1 Poliquin Step Up – 3 x 12
A2 Nordic Eccentrics – 3 x 5

Identical session to last time. I felt a bit sluggish in some of the agility drills, perhaps it was seeing how slow I looked on video as I was recording the COD (change of direction) drills. I have a bit of a cough and sore throat but nothing major.

29 November

Exercise Bike – 35 mins (level 6, 100-105 Watts)

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 7
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 30 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 6
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 8

I do not feel good today, I have a heavy cough and did the bare minimum required of me. Power was down on the bike by 5-10%.

Phase 2 overall has been enjoyable and the exercise progressions are very clear. I can see it building nicely into phases 3 to 5, which I hope leads to increasingly faster times.

[Fraser Young]

Phase 2 – Week 1

16 November

Broad Jump, 4 – best of 250cm
90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Shin Angle Flow – 8 reps
Mirror Reaction – 3 x 15 secs
A Walk, March, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 10m each
Skips for Distance – 2 x 20m
Waist Harness March – 2 x 10m x 45kg
Waist Harness Accel Bound – 2 x 10m x 30kg
Waist Harness March/Bound/Run – 2 x 12m x 30kg
Posture Hold – 2 x 10 secs
Banded Load and Lift – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w Switch – 2 x 5
Banded Load & Lift w Triple Switch – 2 x 5
4 Step Accel – 4 reps
Heavy Sled Sprint – 4 x 5m x 45kg
Arm Swipes – 5 reps
Non-CM Contrast Jumps – 3 x 3
Banded Straight Leg Pull Through – 3 x 8
Oscillating RLESS – 3 x 25 secs x 5kg

That was tougher! Almost 2 hours long and a huge amount of focus on the first 5 metres. I really liked the banded load & lift as well as the chance to do accels, even if it’s only 5 metres. I tested my broad jump having completed phase 1 and was surprised it was a little down. I’ve learned how to load the hip and I was using that for the jumps but no improvement on recent attempts. This is only a 2 week phase and then it will all change again.

17 November

Med Ball Chest Pass – 3 x 8
Med Ball Slams – 3 x 8
A1 Bench Press – 4 x 4 x 90kg
A2 Clap Push ups – 4 x 5
Pendlay Rows – 3 x 8 x 80kg
B1 Pull ups – 3 x 6 x 10kg
B2 DB OHP – 3 x 6 x 22.5kg

Fairly difficult as I moved up weight or reps in a few exercises, once a week is really maintenance and quite hard to make strength gains.

18 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 5
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 40 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 4
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 6

This was a breeze, just over 20 minutes. I even doubled the suggested hold for side planks as I don’t want to get complacent in exercises where I can clearly do more.

19 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Barefoot Freestyle – 4 mins
Hip Flip Series – 2 x 20m
A Walk, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 10m each
ACK, Bleed, SL Bound to High Knee Dribble – 2 x 20m each
3 Position ISO Holds – 3 reps
Wickets – 6 x 20m in 2.40 secs
40 yd Technical Build Up – 3 x 40m, last 10m in 1.11 secs
Box Drop Progressions – 3 x 4
Hip Extension Pulses – 3 x 15 secs
SL Box Step Down – 3 x 8 x 8kg
Nordic Eccentrics – 3 x 4
Kickstand Soleus Raise – 3 x 20 x 8kg

Wet track, 2 degrees, +3 m/s wind. So nice to be back on an athletics track. I thought I’d be colder but thermal long lycra and tracksuit bottoms kept me warm enough. Really pleased with the wicket drills considering the spacing was probably wrong. I was too conservative and ended up being very choppy in my first 4 strides. Slow build up in the technical 40’s, I went out to 40 metres because it’s only 1-2 strides further and gives me a flying 10m time. Soleus raise gave me an absolute burn in my lower leg and foot, unreal. This took almost 2.5 hours as I had to drive to the track and back.

Thursday’s session is in doubt as it’s forecast to snow, if the ground isn’t frozen I may have better luck on grass in rugby boots.

20 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 5
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 40 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 4
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 6

21 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Band SL Raise – 10 reps
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow (RDL Swings) – 10 x 1.25kg
Hip Bridge Reach Across – 10 reps
Spiral Elasticity – 10 x 1.25kg
Lateral Line – 10 reps
Barefoot Freestyle – 4 mins
AI Walks – 2 x 10 reps
Nervous System Blaster – 3 x 15 secs
1-2 Push Out Accel/Repeat – 3 x 2 reps
Tennis Ball Shoulder Drop COD – 2 x 4 reps
Hip Flip Tennis Ball COD – 2 x 4 reps
Angled Bounds – 4 x 1 set
Band Rapid Lateral Level 1 – 3 x 8
A1 Poliquin Step Up – 3 x 12
A2 Nordic Eccentrics – 3 x 5

I enjoyed that, not often I do anything agility or change of direction focused. As long as I don’t get injured it feels like it will somehow benefit my straight line speed and make me more well-rounded.

22 November

Exercise Bike – 35 mins (level 6, 105-110 Watts)

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Cat Camel Breathing – 2 x 4
A2 Wall Side T-Spine Opener – 2 x 4
B1 Walking Chop Level 2 – 3 x 5
B2 Side Plank – 3 x 40 secs
C1 Squat to Stand – 3 x 4
C2 Cross Touch Extension – 3 x 6

I was noticeably struggling this morning and had to dial back the wattage on the bike to keep my heart rate in range. Core was easy and felt like a bit of a chore as it was freezing in my garage.

There was an obvious step up in intensity this week but at the same time a clear focus on foundational work for what’s ahead. I quite like the slow build, I’ve been working solidly for a while now and this is almost like one big deload.

[Fraser Young]

Phase 1 – Week 2

10 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Shin Angle Flow – 2 x 5
Hip Internal Rotation – 3 x 20
3D Band First Step – 3 x 6
Decel Progressions – 3 x 10
Lateral Accel/Decel Progressions – 3 x 10
A Drills (Walk, March, Skip, Switch, Triple) – 2 x 10m each
Shoulder Harness March – 2 x 10m x 40kg sled
Shoulder Harness Accel Bound – 2 x 10m x 25kg sled
Posture Hold – 2 x 10 secs
Load and Lift – 2 x 5
Switches – 2 x 5
Extensive Jumps (Knee dominant) 3 x 18
Extensive Jumps (Ankle dominant) 3 x 60 secs
A1 Glute Isometric – 4 x 10 secs
A2 RLESS ISO – 4 x 10kg x 30 secs
B1 Copenhagen Plank – 2 x 20 secs
B2 Post Chain Plank – 2 x 25 secs

A shame that it’s only 2 weeks because it takes me that long to get used to the exercises. I really liked this session, I was feeling the burn in all the right places. RLESS ISO was a real burn, I thought I had 8kg last time but it was only 5kg, and it was 20 secs vs. 30 secs, so fair to say I suffered for my choices. I was probably too conservative on the harness march, 40kg plus 5kg for the sled is only ~65% of body-weight and I believe this should be “heavy”, which is classified as 80%, meaning 55kg. I will try 50kg in the next session.

11 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Bird Dogs – 3 x 10
A2 Foot Stability Lateral Line Stretch – 3 x 5
B1 Walking Chops Level 1 – 3 x 8
B2 Sprinter Hip Stretch – 3 x 5
C1 1 Leg Hip Loaded RDL – 3 x 7
C2 OH Deep Squat Progressions – 3 x 5
Band Knee to Knee Rotation – 3 x 8

A slight increase in reps, demanding but manageable. I feel strong.

12 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Band Straight Leg Raise – 10 reps
Front/Back Fascia Line Flow – 10 x 1.25kg per hand
Hip Bridge Reach Across – 10 reps
Spiral Elasticity – 10 x 1.25kg per hand
Lateral Line – 10 reps
Barefoot Fascia Spring – 3 mins
Split Groove Set – 2 x 15 secs
Hip Flip Series – 2 x 20m
Dribble Ankle, Calf, Knee, Dribble Bleed – 2 x 15m each
Straight Leg Bound to High Knee Dribble – 2 x 15m
3 Position ISO Holds – 3 reps
Double Lateral Extensive Hops – 2 x 30 secs
Hip Bridge Progressions – 3 x 8
A1 Hamstring Walkouts – 3 x 4
A2 Poliquin Step Up – 3 x 8 x 8kg

I wasn’t that motivated going into this but it went well. Eager to do something a little more demanding in phase 2.

13 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Anti Ankle Collapse Step Overs – 3 x 8
Anti Rotation ABC’s – 3 sets
Stir the Pot – 3 x 30 secs
Around the World Cross Drives – 3 x 5 x 5kg
Prone Pull Through – 3 x 5 x 5kg
Spiral Elasticity – 3 x 8 x 1.25kg

Yoga – 45 mins

A mixture of core and balance work, rushed to get it done at 6am before work.

14 November

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
Dynamic Warm Up 2
Shin Angle Flow – 2 x 5
Hip Internal Rotation Series – 3 x 20
3D Band First Step – 3 x 6
Decel Progressions – 3 x 10
Lateral Accel/Decel Progressions – 3 x 10
A Walk, March, Skip, Switch, Triple – 2 x 10m each
Shoulder Harness March – 10m x 50kg, 10m x 45kg sled
Shoulder Harness Accel Bound – 2 x 10m x 30kg sled
Posture Hold – 2 x 10 secs
Load and Lift – 2 x 5
Switches – 2 x 5
Extensive Jumps (Knee Dominant) – 3 x 18
Extensive Jumps 4 Way (Ankle Dominant) – 3 x 60 secs
A1 Glute Isometric – 3 x 10 secs
A2 RLESS ISO – 3 x 5kg x 30 secs
B1 Copenhagen Plank – 2 x 20 secs
B2 Post Chain Plank – 2 x 25 secs

Good session, 50kg on the sled was a step too far and I could hear my harness ripping slightly. Everything else was solid.

15 November

Exercise Bike – 35 mins (level 6, 110-115 Watts)

90/90 Hip Lift – 5 reps
A1 Bird Dogs – 3 x 10
A2 Foot Stability Lateral Line Stretch – 3 x 5
B1 Walking Chops Level 1 – 3 x 8
B2 Sprinter Hip Stretch – 3 x 5
C1 1 Leg Hip Loaded RDL – 3 x 7
C2 OH Deep Squat Progressions – 3 x 5
Band Knee to Knee Rotation – 3 x 8

This session wasn’t too demanding, ready for phase 2!

I feel like I’ve been operating at 50% effort for the last 2 weeks, with very few exercises being genuinely difficult. I’m excited about ramping up the intensity for Phase 2, which is called “Freak Athlete”.

[Author]

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