Posts by stevemagness
How do we actually train?- Presentation from Kentucky Track Coaches Clinic
Some of the best experiences I have in terms of learning are when I get to travel and speak at different conferences. As someone who grew up hating public speaking, I now thoroughly enjoy it, so each time I get to talk I have the opportunity to refine how I do that. But beyond that,…
Read MoreMy best books of 2014- Books that established connections and patterns.
As I did last year, I think there is value in passing along my favorite books of the year. Not necessarily because I think I have some great insight into what books may be impactful on you, but instead because the books you read give an insight into how your thought process evolves and changes.…
Read MoreEpisode 1- The Clean Slate Phenomenon
I’m a distance runner, which means I am really good at thinking that I can do everything myself, as our sport is sometimes portrayed as the ultimate loner sport. But the reality is that, regardless of level, we need help, sometimes a lot of help, to get to the places we aspire to get to.…
Read MoreThe Calm Conversation-How to deal with pain
My brother had called and texted, telling me to find a place to stay in Pennsylvania. Like any mid 20’s know it all, listening to my older brother wasn’t something that came naturally. It wasn’t even snowing at that point in the 4-hour drive from Penn State back home to the Washington DC suburbs of…
Read MoreDepleting for Performance and more Drug in Sport discussion
I wanted to point a couple of items that may be of interest to readers. Depleting for Performance First, I’m fortunate enough to write a monthly column for Running Times. In this issue, I delve into using energy depletion as a way to get more bang for your buck in training. Essentially, the idea is…
Read MoreNew Years Reflections and Anti-Resolutions
This year was a good year for me. I was fortunate enough to have a lot of very good things happen, as well as a few trials and tribulations that are necessary stressors that make you grow, adapt and develop as a person in ways that I doubt I could have predicted a year ago.…
Read MoreWhy BulletProof Diet/Coffee is based on BS.
I apologize to those who come here for good track or athletic related training advice. Bare with me for this post as I take on something that has been bugging me for the past few weeks. Once again, it’s from someone who makes claims that running the crazy high mileage of 50mpw is unhealthy, but…
Read MoreUncertainty, Randomness, and Over-control in Training
Control the Contrallables It’s what we preach in coaching and in life. Don’t sweat the small things that don’t have an actual impact on our well being or life. It’s one of the simplest and most profound lessons one needs to learn. And it makes perfect sense. But like most things, can we take this…
Read MoreEverything you need to know about Doping Scandal in Track and Field
It’s been quite an interesting few days for the IAAF I imagine. Track and field has finally joined the ranks of cycling in terms of perceived doping and corruption issues. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me catch you up on the past few days. ·German TV station drops bombshell…
Read MoreTracking collegiate runners- sleep, stress, soreness, recovery and performance
I have a reputation, perhaps deservingly so, a scientific coach. The irony is that while I use principles and blend knowledge and science into my coaching practices, it’s not like we’re sitting here measuring VO2max, or even caring about it honestly. As a person, I love crunching the numbers and the data that comes with…
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