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... the pain will be almost completely gone tomorrow ready to do the box squats, which will make the pain come back up again after the workout and last for a few days again and repeat, but I don't know what that means about the state of my back.

It's obviously hard to know exactly how much pain/discomfort you're feeling and whether it's above normal expectations from this type of  training, but it might mean your back cannot handle box squats right now. You could be playing with fire by continuing to go back to them and repeating this cycle. Ideally you'd want to see the discomfort fall as you get more sessions in, but if it's always bad, it probably means you should back off for awhile.

If you can, go to a good PT and get some treatment on your back. It might just be really knotted up. Or you can lie on your back, get your legs up on a couch, and get a hard ball (hockey ball or similar) into your lower spinal erectors, gluteus medius, and midback spinal erectors. See how that feels after doing it for 10-15mins a day. Then I'd just lay off box squats for awhile, but still do your other exercises that don't induce the pain.

Also, I would consider box squats to be a late-season peaking exercise and not something you're using as a main lift throughout the year. I think the best course of action for your lower body compound power lift (be it DLs, pulls/cleans, or squat) is start with a high volume of full RoM reps, low-ish weight (still ~60-70% 1RM, 5-10 reps) for most of your training block, then progressively reduce the reps, raise the weight, and finally perform the supramax versions like box or quarter squats, block DL, or hang power cleans etc., so you're moving a very high load as fast as possible. These last ones should only be over a relatively brief window in your training plan - because the aim is mostly to get stronger and more powerful at these exercises without getting hurt, which prevents you from doing your sport-specific training (sprinting for you).

In regards to my hamstring flexibility, I can lay on my back and lift both legs individually 90 degrees and I stretch it grabbing my trouser sleeves and pull it close to me. So I think my hamstring flexibility is good.

I used to do single leg Romanian dead lifts using dumbbells in both hands, but I stopped because it was hurting my back. But then again I was doing it while balancing on one leg, I didn't know I could put the non working leg on the floor at the back.

Flexibility sounds fine, don't go crazy trying to stretch yourself out to the level of a contortionist. SLDLs are great and they could help a lot, especially switching the load halfway through as I described somewhere. It might address some imbalances you've got in terms of hip/glute/hamstring muscles. But definitely don't rest your rear leg on the floor though - you want to have the balance aspect.

In regards to tempo sprints, can you give me an example. Do you want me to do them every time I go to the gym.

Are you still being coached? Ask your coach if so. A good example might be [100 sprint - 100 slow jog - 100 sprint - 100 slow jog - 100 sprint - 200 slow jog - 200 sprint]^n, all at a pace where you're up sprinting on the ball of your foot, but not much faster (60-70% speed or so).

I may also incorporate long walks when I get the opportunity.

Thanks

Do that when you're retired and save your energy  . Joking - any active low-impact stuff on off days is good.

- run/walk 1.95km
shin thing flared up immediately after i started running and did not go away as i warmed up, decided to go easy on it. balls. it's swollen, icing it now. no idea what happened.

- superset x 2
- pull up x 7
- BSS x 12

- stretch

 

Is it in the right area for shin splints? Lots of toe raises clears up shin splints like nothing else. I've never seen one single exercise fix an issue so completely as toe raises for shin pain.

I noticed you had a stiff neck a few days ago, and then got hit with the headache yesterday. That's how mine often presented themselves. Since I've been forcing myself to do more neck mobility stuff, they haven't been nearly as frequent. They are absolutely brutal when they strike, so I can sympathise.

nice.

as for the work+training combination, it took me a while to figure out. for me, it seems like competition is the key. that's why i sign up for tons of races. with a race nearly every weekend, there's an endless amount of motivation.

that's why those thursday competitions sound great. compete nearly every week. try to dominate

pc!

Yep 100%. That's why I was so glad to find out about it. I went from barely being able to run at enough comps (a few years ago in the amatuer athletic program here) to being able to run a 100m every week

I didn't really end up training or testing my vertical any more up to the end of last year. I got annoyingly busy with work - definitely could not fit in going to the courts beforehand, or much of anything.

I had a bit more of a chat with some of the coaches down at the athletics track near my house. I got absolutely nowhere with the council to try and have it unlocked - huge waste of time. But, I eventually sweet-talked my way into paying a small fee to be able to use the track (and gym) there any time Mon - Thurs. Weekend access would be sweet but I might need to invest a bit more time there to ask about that.

The other interesting thing, unbeknownst to me, is that each Thurs at 7PM, year-round, the club run a competition, with a sprint (60-100m) and long sprint (200-400m) each week, for just $1 entry. Had I known that, I would have been down there each week, but the old fellas who run this place aren't particularly web-savvy, and their website is completely unhelpful. Anyway, near the end of last year and this year, I've gone down for a run, because I can also get a lot of jumps in at the long jump pit. I still have pretty decent speed thanks to staying fit and also from power-training: ran a 11.95ht 100m and a 7.7ht 60m over the last few months. I nearly strained my calf trying to run a 300m, so I have lost some endurance in that regard, but that's not surprising.

I cancelled my gym membership, because I can squat at the gym at the track 1x/week, and that's all I was really using the gym for. It's an ancient gym, but it has everything you'd need. Otherwise, I can do banded goblet squats at home with weight plates for assistance work, and get lots of jumps in 2x/week at the track.

I like the vert comp idea that Coges came up with (as I was doing that for the last year and it's good motivation), so my plan is to basically keep doing what I was doing, but with a bit more sprinting (just a bit, not enough to get distracted - although I would like to keep sprinting as something I could do as I get older). I want to get my running VJs up again to have a few shots at dunking at the courts when I get the chance. I might really get my act together and draw out a yearly plan with phases, as I like to do, but so much of it is contingent on bloody work. I don't want to get to the weekend warrior level, but I can definitely see how it happens. Work will consume your existence if you don't make a big effort to keep up other activities (it's happened to most of my friends now).

MEAN WHILE, I joined a Virtual Race... which require me to run 10 x 10km from Jan 20 to Feb 28.
with Chinese New year  holiday being within this time slot... it will be a real challenge.   Lets do this for the sick of weight control.

I have to question why you'd want to do this if you are serious about restarting your jump training now. You will lean out just doing 45min squat sessions 2-3x/week and eating right.

Glad your back is feeling better mate! It's great that it's in an area that can heal well and you can be back to 100%.

LEGS: no idea what to do. knee extensions/leg curs seem dumb, after 10 years of squats&DLs i can't relate to them. Lunges should be fine as second exercise. But main? Leg press is a no. Single leg squats? very light high volume limited ROM squats? HELP!

Firstly, lots of GHRs/back extensions, if they're OK to do. Secondly, SL box squats for 6-8 reps per set is very challenging. If you're not planning to build up to a big squat for awhile, this could be good maintenance. BSS@BW could be good too, not much back flexion.

Core: I'd like to have some side stuff too. What should i do? Anti rotational stuff? Side bends? Medicine ball twists? HELP!

I watched this video the other day and it gave me some great ideas for calisthenics-style core exercises. My top exercise recommendations would be: hanging and lying leg raises, pallof press, side twists with band, and supine window washers (legs straight or bent). Having the ability to exert and withstand rotational force equally well in both directions seems to be one of the best training goals to help with back issues.

I'm hoping you've just strained your multifidus (at the base of the spine, near the coccyx, and almost running parallel with the spinal column). I remember that getting very tight on me when I was doing a lot of power cleans. Good luck!

Unfortunately the max speed of the treadmill at the gym is 23km/h.
I was going to gradually work up to 36km/h see how it feels but that's not possible anymore, will have to see if I can find another place to use just for treadmill or buy my own if financially possible.

You know, there's no speed limit on a track....