When it comes to training the appropriate energy system, one could argue writing workouts for 100m runners requires relatively little nuance. But, if you coach kids who excel at both the 400 and 800 (and 600 if you live in the northeast), you’ve got to find the optimal dose of speed and endurance work. A…
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Your Honest Best
Initially, I wanted to write this post about trusting the process – what I dubbed “the key to surviving this sport” after a long conversation with World Athletics Center sprints coach, Chidi Enyia. But given the circumstances, I figured this was the perfect time to sit down and really think about what it means to give your all.
Do this if you have too much snow or coach multiple event groups
I have two program recommendations for those of you who: A) have 3 feet of snow on your track B) coach kids competing in multiple event groups C) are responsible for planning training for multiple event groups D) all of the above Whether spring track is turning into an extension of winter track or you’re…
Just Do It… Seriously
I have always been a thinker. I overanalyze literally everything like it’s my job. In many respects, this is a trait that has served me well, especially academically and professionally. But athletically? Not always. During my four years at Wheaton I obsessed over details on the track. I thought out each individual move I…
3 Ways to Teach Rhythm in the Sprint Hurdles
Hurdling without rhythm is like trying to dance the tango with two left feet— indeed disastrous. Since the hurdle race has several different components to rhythm, athletes with high cadence typically make great hurdlers. A hurdler’s rhythmic stride pattern begins the moment they take their first step out of the blocks. In hurdle races, the…
The Path to Becoming a Professional Track and Field Athlete?
Over the coming months, CTF will be expanding and evolving in a number of directions I believe will contribute to improving the sport as a whole, as well as enhancing the experiences of athletes and coaches. We will continue to place our primary emphasis on coaches and athletes competing at the developmental levels. But, that…
Acceleration Progression – Working from the Top Down
Over the summer I’ve had the opportunity to both have my questions answered by some of the best colleagues and friends a coach could ask for and also to answer a few questions myself as well. One round of questions from a fellow coach that recently caught my eye was in regards to acceleration. I…
Coaching the National Record Holder at 1600m
In the spring of 2013, Complete Track & Field Endurance Guru Scott Christensen coached one of his athletes to the Freshman National Record at 1600m. Suffice to say, Scott does *work* when it comes to developing top shelf middle distance, distance and cross country athletes. Take a look at a news story done about Scott’s…
3 Coaching Lessons for (Young) Coaches
I get asked a lot of questions so I thought I’d share three of the seminal lessons I’ve learned since I started coaching HS track and field at the turn of the century: #3 Stay Current If you want to be in the top 20% of coaches, you can’t allow yourself to become complacent by regurgitating…
How to Fix a Lazy Hurdle Trail Leg
If you attend clinics and seminars with any degree of regularity, you know that some of the best information gets shared between sessions and at the social when talking shop with presenters and other coaches. That’s why I think the Q&A aspect of Coach Veney’s new Advanced Hurdle Development program is extremely underrated. Today, I’m…
Learn This at the Summer Clinic (Heavy vs Light Sled Pulls)
If you study speed development based resistance training, you’ve no doubt read the standard line, espoused by many, to ‘never use more than 10% of bodyweight’ when doing sled pulls. The logic is that any more resistance than that will compromise acceleration mechanics making the drill not only ineffective, but counterproductive. Well, the other day…
8th Anniversary Sale! Lowest Prices of the Year!
We’re celebrating our 8th Anniversary as a company this week and that means, for this week only, you can get all of our resources at the lowest prices of the year. ==> Complete Track & Field 8th Anniversary Sale I think you know how a sale works so I’ll just stick to the relevant points…