Letter from the Editor May 2016

Welcome readers, to the May 2016 issue of The Hurdle Magazine, which promises to be another good one.

This month’s articles continue with the themes of learning and teaching, as I’m directing my focus toward the types of questions I’ve been receiving in emails from athletes and coaches, while also focusing on issues I’ve been encountering while coaching my own athletes.

“Those Gosh Darn Shin Splints” addresses an issue common to hurdlers, especially at this time of year. In it I offer a solution to literally get rid of shin splints, as practiced and shown to me by one of the student athletic trainers at my school. Her method is the only one I’ve ever encountered that actually makes the shin splints go away.

In “The A-Skip Approach to Hurdling,” I discuss how to get hurdlers who swing their lead leg from the hip to learn how to lead with the knee, with the focus being on making the hurdling action mimic the A-skip instead of the B-skip.

In “Keni and Brianna” I continue to analyze the season that Kendra Harrison is having, this time focusing on her friendly rivalry with former Clemson teammate Brianna Rollins. In the article, I analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both athletes, comparing their styles.

“Puddle Hopping Blues” is all about teaching the young four-stepper to transition into three-stepping without bounding from hurdle to hurdle. The article discusses the importance of proper sprint mechanics to ensure that puddle-hopping from hurdle to hurdle does not became an ingrained habit.

This month’s workout, “Race-Speed Workout,” is specifically designed as a pre-race workout for 100/110 hurdlers in preparation for major competitions. The idea is to put the emphasize on speed and aggression, not on technique.

In “Omar MacLeod, New Kid on the Block” I take a look at the emergence of the Jamaican hurdling sensation as the top hurdler in the world. Mainly, I take a look at his technique and style and try to explain what he’s doing from a coach’s standpoint to perform at such a high level.

Thanks to web designer Chris Brajer for always being available to troubleshoot subscription glitches, and website-related issues.

Thanks to you, subscribers, for your patience and your loyalty. I hope that everyone’s season continues to progress well.

Steve McGill