Posts by stevemagness
Epigenetics in Athletics Part 2: African dominance explained?
In Part 1 on Epigenetics, we looked at some of the science behind the new field. This we’ll take more of a theoretical look and try and explore some of the possible implications. As I said in Part 1, the major finding is that these epigenetic changes can potentially impact subsequent generations. Your behavior can…
Read MoreEpigenetics in Athletics Part 1: What the heck is epigenetics?
The study of epigenetics has exploded in the last few years and the amount of new research dedicated to the field is staggering. But what exactly is it in laymen’s terms? As you are probably aware, traditionally we all thought the sequence of the actual DNA was the be all end all. Depending on what…
Read MoreMy unlikely journey through running- Runner’s World Article
I recently got the opportunity to do an article for Runner’s World online thanks to Peter Vigneron. While I normally cover training or science related topics, Peter suggested I take a different approach and reflext on my life in running. As most of you know I’ve had a number of different roles in this sport. …
Read MoreWhy we land in front of our center of gravity
Why we land in front of our center of gravity stevemagness | August 23, 2010 Pete Larson, once again, had an excellent blog post on foot strike and center of gravity (COG) (click here to read it). The notion that all runners should land underneath their COG (or hips, they’re often used interchangeably) has been…
Read MoreStrength Endurance Presentation
I’ve been doing a lot of research and writing lately as I’ve got a series of articles I’m working on for Running Times online, so I thought I’d take a break from the heavy science based articles and running form and give you visual learners something slightly different. I’ve covered the topic of the importance of…
Read MoreHow to Run-Part 2: Cues, Pictures, Videos, and Hip Extension
Given the response to my last post on How to Run, I figured I needed to explain and expand on some of the concepts covered. To complement the reading heavy last post, this time around I’ve included a video and several pictures to help demonstrate some of the concepts discussed. I’ve also tried to address…
Read MoreHow to Run: Running with proper biomechanics
The simple question of how do you run is largely unanswered in the running community. You have a bunch of pseudo-guru styles like Pose or Chi, but the key to running correctly to maximize performance is a topic that is largely left to elite coaches or biomechanics experts. As Pete Larson pointed out in his…
Read MoreRecognizing patterns, winning workouts, making connections, and making it blatantly obvious
I’m generally not interested in the stock market or any business related information, but when former Super Bowl winning coach with the Baltimore Ravens Brian Billick tells you to read a business book, you do it. So I picked up the book Good to Great by Dr. Jim Collins with the hope that I would…
Read MoreTo change or not: Salazar, Ritzenhein, and running form changes
Ritz and his new form: There is a lot of buzz going around about Dathan Ritzenhein and his form changes. You either fall into one of two camps as Amby Burfoot stated in his blog on the subject: it’s great or insane (his article is here). I’ve got to observe Salazar working on mechanics twice.…
Read MoreThe 10,000hr rule and why talent and genes matter
The 10,000hr rule and why talent and genes matter: A decade or so ago, if you asked the top scientists what separated top athlete’s, the answer would be simple, genetics. Fast forward to today and the answer seemingly has shifted to the opposite end of the spectrum, hard work. Two books that came out a…
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