Posts by stevemagness
Episode 46: The State of the Sport
For the end of 2016, Jon and I take a look forward. What is the state of track and field in the world and where do we go from here. We get things started by asking what each of our utopian track and field worlds would look like, before delving into the problems with our…
Read MoreMy Top Coaching Books of 2016: Books that make you think!
Every year I post a list of the books I’ve learned the most from (for example 2014 list, 2013 list). Over time, my reading interests have shifted as I evolve as a coach. I’ve found myself branching out to ever-expanding domains, while still trying to return to the basics. This year’s list is a perfect…
Read MoreEpisode 45: What is high performance coaching?
What in the world does the term “High-Performance Coaching” mean? It’s a phrase that is thrown about in the sports world, so we brought on coach Vern Gambetta to discuss his views. As always when we bring Vern on, we cover a wide range of topics. We start by discussing the role of performance data…
Read More“How do you feel?”- Understanding What Athlete Feedback Tells Us
“Never ask how it felt! You’re creating doubt!” the supposed master coach quipped. I had just asked an athlete how their last interval felt. I was young and I didn’t understand it then. Perhaps I’m still too dense, but I don’t understand it now either. This coaches point was that he wanted athletes to run…
Read MoreWhat Unlearning and Re-learning How to Ride a Bike Can Teach Us
One of my professors during grad school was fond of telling me that coaching was all about learning. In the science field, it was about understanding motor learning and how our brain’s process and develop the skills that sport requires. His point was that that connection determined how we do what we do in sport,…
Read MoreArthur Lydiard: The Father of Modern Training
Arthur Lydiard is often thought of as the father of modern distance running. His training information is widely available, but often times misunderstood. People often make the mistake of equating Lydiard to Long Slow Distance. While his training has changed throughout history, it’s would be beneficial to look back and see what “original” Lydiard training…
Read MorePercy Cerutty- The Eccentric Stotan
Percy Cerutty was an eccentric, yet often overlooked coach, in a historical context. He trained many of the greatest distance runners of his time. His most prominent athletes was Herb Elliott who captured both the 1960 olympic gold medal and a world record in the 1,500 and mile. Cerutty also trained numerous other succesful runners…
Read MoreEpisode 44: Reflection and Rejuvenation
The seasons done, the races have been run, and the outcomes are determined. Whether they were good or bad, we have to move forward. As a coach and athlete it’s about figuring out what lessons to learn, and how to re-energize yourself (and your team) for the next goal that awaits. In this episode of…
Read MoreDoping, Lying, and How Your Brain Adapts to Everything
Our brain adapts to everything– regardless of whether it is good or bad. When something we say, hear, or do doesn’t fit with the reality we know, our brain lets us know. A subtle blip, a wave of electrical activity, goes off in our brain, signaling that something isn’t quite right. That an error we…
Read MoreEpisode 43: What’s it take to be a competitor?
“He’s a competitor!” We’ve all had athletes that exemplified the act of competing. They show up on race day, run their guts out, rise to the occasion when it’s asked of them, and put their teammates on their back, instead of only being concerned with themselves. What makes up this ability? Is it innate? Research…
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