Letter from the Editor April 2016

Hello readers, sorry that this month’s issue comes out a couple days late. But I feel confident in saying that it will prove to be worth the wait.

This month’s articles focus a lot on technique and rhythm, emphasizing my role as a “teacher” of all things hurdle-related.

In “Run on the Balls of the Feet,” I argue the point that running on the balls of the feet, with the ankles dorsi-flexed, is the first and most important aspect of hurdling technique that must be ingrained if the other aspects of technique are to fall in place accordingly.

In “Learning to Train at Different Speeds,” I argue the point that hurdlers must learn early on to master hurdling drills so that they don’t wear their bodies down by training at full speed all of the time when doing hurdle workouts. Hurdlers who only know to go as hard as they can never really learn how to hurdle.

“The Start in the 400 Hurdles” focuses exactly on that topic, and how the start sets up the rest of the race. I also discuss how race strategy is predicated upon the approach to the first hurdle and the transition into hurdle two in the full-lap hurdle race.

“Breaking up the Rhythm” is similar in theme to “Learning to Train at Different Speeds.” This article, though, is geared more toward the advanced hurdler who is stuck in a rut, unable to set new personal bests. Often, advanced hurdlers get locked into a rhythm because they’ve grown so comfortable with it. This article offers ways to break the rhythm in such a way that can hopefully lead to a breakthrough.

This month’s workout, “Quick-step Rhythm Shake-up Workout,” is specifically designed to break up the rhythm and to get the hurdler to adapt to different tempos that mimic the three major zones of a race.

In “12.36 OMG!” I continue my analysis of the progression of my former athlete, Kendra Harrison, as she continues to make huge strides in the women’s 100 meter hurdles. In this article, I take a closer look at her world-leading 12.36 that she ran last weekend at the Spec Towns Invitational in Georgia. Specifically, I explain what she’s doing from a hurdling standpoint to run so fast, and I also take a look at what she can do to run even faster.

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