In the March issue of Running Times magazine, which is out now, you’ll see an article on Muscle Tension that I wrote.  It’s a very interesting topic that I’ve explored here on the blog in a previous post, but the Running Times article let me dig much deeper.  Former elite runner Marius Bakken provided some great insight.  Just my opinion, but it’s worth a read.

For those of you who pick it up and give it a read, I’d love to hear feedback.

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    8 Comments

    1. Mark U. on February 4, 2011 at 2:00 am

      Thanks, Steve. Good topic. It just came in the mail today; I'll be sure to check it out.

    2. Physiological on February 4, 2011 at 2:03 am

      Steve,
      I know over the years this blog has become much more about training, science, etc. than your own personal running. That's cool; I really like what you have to offer and consider it on a regular basis when I'm thinking about running, putting together programs, rechecking my own training paradigms, etc.

      However, I do kind of want to know what's going on with you, too. I saw that you're helping out with OTC, via the flotrack video from yesterday. Congrats! That is a great gig and I can't think of anyone more deserving. I'm excited to see what you can do as you work your way up to a high level coaching position with professional runners. Some insight into your function there, or even how you got there, would be fascinating, if you're at liberty to tell us.

      Also, does this mean you're officially putting your own competitive running on the backburner? Or will you still be training full-time as well as coaching? I know you definitely have what it takes in you to bust out a big one. Maybe the resources in Portland could be useful not just for coaching, but for training!

      Anything you can share would be very interesting.

    3. RICK'S RUNNING on February 4, 2011 at 7:15 pm

      I've been using Marius Bakkens ideas to very good effect!
      Tuning muscle tension for improved performance was new to me before I started his marathon programme.
      All very interesting stuff and it works :]

    4. Anonymous on February 5, 2011 at 1:36 pm

      i had read your muscle tension article on this site a few month back. and yesterday my running times mag came in the mail and after reading the article i had realized you wrote it. im glad to see that this site/ your ideas are starting to get mainstream b/c i feel that as a competitive runner/coach you have alot better advice to offer than the regular excercise physiologist who cant actually aply his knowledge to real life

    5. Andrew on February 5, 2011 at 3:59 pm

      I thought it was a great article. I read it the other night and turned to my spouse/business partner and had a great conversation about it. I am definitely one who has always shirked taper week and steered away from short intensity work (more out of laziness). Fortunately, I have never had a really flat race.

      What you wrote, makes a lot of sense and definitely has me thinking differently about the way I train myself and others.

    6. Rich on February 7, 2011 at 1:10 am

      Thanks for explaining some of the science behind peaking strategies. This will help me be smart about my peak and listen to my body rather than implement some formula. I'm especially interested in prepping for harder workouts by throwing in some plyos or other power activity the day before.

    7. Anonymous on February 8, 2011 at 10:30 pm

      Great article. Hope things are working out well at Nike. You know so much about running and are a class act. Keep up the running because you are talented.

    8. Anonymous on February 11, 2011 at 5:13 am

      Interesting ideas, but where does the "ranking" of how various factors affect muscle tension come from? Are there studies on this or is this Bakken's opinion?

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