Archives for February 2020

February 6, 2020

In my book, The Art of Hurdling: A Manual for Coaches, I explain how I approach hurdling, and coaching hurdlers, from a 1-2-3 perspective. The seeds of this approach began, unbeknownst even to myself, when I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia during my teen years. My doctor informed me that this blood disease is characterized by bone marrow failure—the bone marrow ceases to produce new blood cells, so the victim slowly runs out of blood. Blood, my doctor explained, is comprised of three types of cells: red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body; white blood cells, which serve to fight off infections; and platelet cells, which prevent bleeding and bruises. His brief hematology lesson gave me insight as to why I had been feeling tired all the time (low red cell count), why I’d been getting a weird whirring sound in my ears (low white cell count), and why random bruises would sometimes appear on my arms and feet (low platelet cell count).

It wasn’t until years later—after I had made a full recovery, graduated from college and then grad school, and then began working full-time—that I found myself contemplating the wonder of it all. These three types of cells work together to create a harmonious balance, a marvelous tapestry of rhythm in motion to protect the body from internal and external threats. If there is an imbalance in any of the three, there is an imbalance in the entire system, and therefore in the entire body, which can lead to a myriad of possible catastrophes. And yet, until we get sick, we don’t even think about how fragile our health is, and all the things that could possibly go wrong. read more

February 5, 2020

One of the topics I discuss in my book, The Art of Hurdling, is how to build a conditioning base for the 400m hurdles. I’ve always felt that conditioning for hurdlers should involve hurdling, even in the very beginning of the off-season. That philosophy somewhat contrasts the approach of many coaches, who prefer to build a base before putting any hurdles up. But my logic is simple: jumpers jump, throwers throw, vaulters vault, sprinters sprint, and hurdlers hurdle. So, while I’m definitely not saying that hurdlers should hurdle every day, I am saying that hurdling work should be incorporated into the training plan at least once a week throughout the year. The thinking is, the only way a hurdler can get used to the rigors of hurdling is by hurdling. The only way a hurdler can refine technique is by hurdling. For the 400m hurdler, I’m cool with plenty of non-hurdling workouts in the off-season to develop strength and speed-endurance. But I feel that if hurdling isn’t included in the mix from the giddy up, then we may not have enough time to get to the type of super-demanding race-prep workouts that are so essential to optimizing success in the championship part of the season. read more

February 4, 2020

So, I wrote a book. A book that has been a long time coming. It’s called The Art of Hurdling: A Manual for Hurdle Coaches. It’s available on Amazon as an eBook now, and a print version will be available soon. In this book, I explain the methods and approach I have used over the past 25 years to develop hurdlers. The title of the book lets you know what the book is about—the importance of emphasizing hurdling as art form, and of teaching hurdling in such a way that allows for fluid, rhythmic motion. My philosophy is, if you focus on mastering the art form, fast times will happen naturally, and progress will be continual. But if you focus on chasing fast times and racing against the competition, you’ll never master the art form, and you’ll therefore never discover your true potential.

Although I am artistic and love to pursue artistic endeavors, and although I take an artistic approach to everything I do, I’m also a very practical person, and I value practicality very highly. So, when it comes to drills and workouts and training strategies, whatever it is we’re doing has to work. And it has to work for us. In this book, I hone in on the methods I’ve used over the years that have worked for my hurdlers time and time again. I know that an athlete who is willing to put in the work is going to progress significantly by following the progression of sprinting and hurdling drills that I use, by sticking with the workout plans that I design, and by thinking outside the box of victory and defeat. The hurdler who approaches hurdling as a quest to master the art form will always discover new ways to improve. And, for such a hurdler, the greatest gratification comes not from defeating opponents or setting personal bests, but from the feeling that comes with running over hurdles free of doubts and inhibitions. read more