TRAINING LOG: Todd Reese

I have been loggin workouts for years.  But now I have a new goal= to throw in the highland games successfully.

After spending 3 years in pursuit of ironman, which I finished in Oct of last year, I have spent the last year eating big and lifting heavy- compared to my past.  Not yours- good grief, you guys are monsters, for the most part.

AND- that is why I am starting this journal.  So that you can see my daily training, and throwing activities.  I am looking for help at PERFORMING well at the games in time.

I'll give this a few years, I know what it takes to transform.  I may even know some stuiff about trainign that I may be able to share.  BUT, It is important that I make you peeps understand-

I AM LOOKING FOR YOU HELP to get better in YOUR ARENA.  I am totally open to direction, criticism, and coaching.  The better I follow, the better i will perform.

Here are a few pics of my build currently -

upper body

legs

high fork on sheaf

Here is my workout from yesterday-

Mountain Bike 4 miles to gym
PowerClean / Deep front squat / Press 3 X 5
Bench 3 x 8, 2 x 3 @250, 1 x 20 @ 135 burn baby
long bar bent over roww 3 x 8
face pulls 3 X 8 , split with pullups, drop to pushups, 3 x 5 <--omg I am so damn heavy now
dumbell flys 3 x 10
ab crunch tricep cable extension 3 x 10
long bar curls 3 x 8
ovehead tricept press 3 x 8
single arm curls, elbow planted 3 x 10

rode bike home, ate and slept

gunna rest today, MAYBE (probably not) may go and burn up the legs before tomorrows 5K - lol

I don't see any other journals like this, so I realize this may seem a lil weird.  But, for me, everytime I have been honest about where I really am in a goal, and been willing to take counsel, and be honest about my efforts (good or bad) I then get better faster.

So, thanks for the help as we go along!

LET'S THROW SOME!

Todd

A Highland game is 25-30 whole body explosions not counting warm ups (counting  3 or so half to full speed speed warmups -it can be as many as 55-60) .There is always lots of sitting/standing around b/n tosses. So , every 2-5 minutes do a whole body all joint explosion for a couple of hours - this is an in season workout. This sport has next to no cardio requirements beyond that - that's why big guys like it. Off season do whatever you like to get stronger in multi joint explosion exercises.  

Monday = rest

tonight I lift

I appreciate the big guys, but I liek to be able to do other stuff.  example, my skydiving gear is only fitted for me up to about 215, and that is about 10K worth of stuff.  I need to run, and ride bikes, because I train people and it pays for my fun.  And lastly, I like ot do stuff- pulling off my shirt at Crabbvy bills and plkaying volleyball for an hour, or taking a mountain bike out with my kid and stuff, is going to be a part of my life.

I did see some athletic, lean STRONG throwers at the games.  Actually two of the best ones were definately sub 220, if not sub 200.  BY NO MEANS am I taking away from mass moves mass, that was obvious too.  BUT for me- I live life, and playing these games is part of my living, and I do nto plan to change ditch all other athletics, and sacrifice the healthy way I live for these games.

Changing the way I train and all that- totally!  I will learn, and who knows, myabe someday I will go BIG!  OOOPS. I am only 5'10" hahaha going big aint really gunna happen.

Hope you guys, and gals will help me make the most of what I have though.

Tuesday Night- didn't lift, wanted the throw more- so:

caber toss 4x4x17 4 out of 5 successful, and one even bounced because I pulled it so high- that felt great.

25 lb braemer stone throw = I did a circuit

Right hand skip throw (longest was 21'4", last time I never hit 20') then I would throw it over head backwards single handed 3 times, then one double handed granny over head for heigth. Then go and toss caber once. (evry throw was successful)

Each circuit would be 5 throws and one caber toss.  Did 4 circuits.

-can't fiugure out how to write that anuy simpler :)

ran 1/3 mile

Also got rope for my sheaf bag.  Also found a nice caber to cut down this weekend, provided the guy gives me permission.  Also have a 6x6x17 coming to the house on Saturday, gift from a friend.

BTW West- a big part of my stone throw last night was making sure I used my legs to launch, and my height and distance got alot better.  As I started to figure out exactly how my feet worked best, and then thru my hip out for power, I also incorporated coming out of bent legs and throwing all the up to my toes.  I only fowled once, but as I get the timeing, I think I will figure out hor to use my body to launch that stone.

Wednesday night- Cut, drug out, and stripped my first "natural" caber.  It is a big ol dog.

check the vid - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDAAWqP0mZE

here's a couple of pics too

now- this thing weighs alot I am guessing 250+ easy.  How do I get it to start drying out faster?  Strip the bark? stand it on end and maybe the sap will drain out?  Hell I don't know.  I can stad it up and push it over.  But it is super heavy.

GRIT BABY!

Let's throw some

FF

thats gonna be a nice caber. what you should do is pretty it up, and trade it with a local games organization for 2 different sized cabers.  tell them they can use it as one of those world class cabers.

Went and got a nice caber from the mill.

It is 12'6" weighs 123 lbs- here is a pic of my daughter painting the ends.

here is my sheaf and fork

did alot of training at the park.  Throwing the sheaf over palm tree branches right now, maybe someday I can clear the pwer lines- LOL :)

West wrote: 12' is a great starter caber. thats what our group uses. You got a heavy one. I will be checking a local saw mill to see about geting an 18 or so footer.

yes it is heavy- it was from the "newer" pile so still pretty wet.  I painted the ends to try and rertain that weight.  I can stand it, pick it, and run with it, but the throw,, It is hard for me to launch it up at all.  Just need training.

After I tried it a few times, felt like I could throw my 4x4 to Jupiter!

my trainign cabers

the 4x4x17 I can nail most times easily.  Threw 10 last night

the fresh cut oak in the middle I can stand up and pick. It must weigh a ton and a half- plus.  Did 5 last night

the 12'6" 130 lbr on right I can stand pick, run, and attempt.  Did 5 last night

also threw 15 sheaf tosses.

My wrists, shoulder, and hands are all scabby!  training baby

let's throw some.

hmmmm ok, when I get a chance I will go out and get a skinny long one.  Now that I know where to go.

and thansk for the reply- that is what the log is for.  I appreciate the input.

I'm just big-boned.

Mike Wills wrote: I think you might be approaching the caber from the wrong direction.  Heavy cabers hurt guys who are trying to learn.  Short cabers are not good for learning the timing that you will need in competition. What you need is something about 20' long and will be only about 70# when dry.  The light weight will make it easier to do a lot of picks, runs, and pulls without getting worn out or injured, and the length will require you to learn technique and timing in order to turn it.

no doubt right here!

Spent the evening (3+ hours) swinging a sledge hammer breaking tile.  Great workout, but messed up my callouses some.

OK- I feel like aq geek, BUT-

when the caber "skips" what is the an indicator of?  I flipped and flipped,and then is started to skip and fall back at me.

Is that a forwrd speed element, or an upward thrust thing?

Wayne Hill wrote: Skipping is a very complicated issue in big competition cabers.  It comes from a variety factors, including the length/flexibility of the caber, hardness of the ground, and so forth.  For your purposes (with an easy practice caber), the caber should be landing on its head, so it wouldn't skip.  Pull earlier/harder.

It was raining and muddy.  I was also tired at that point so no doubt I was missing the mark.

Also did a bunch of squats, OH squats, and OH presses with the big fat caber.  Good workout.  I think I should have painted the whole thing, then it would rip at my skin so much.  That was fun and gnarly at first; but now it just hurts.