Letter from the Editor June 2016

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

Got some more Keni Harrison in this issue, more teaching, and  some other thought-provoking stuff for you to contemplate.

“12.24, and Beyond!” takes an inside look at Kendra Harrison’s American record race at the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month, and also addresses the question of how fast I think Harrison will be able to run this year. As her season for the ages continues, we all need to recognize that we are witnessing something special and perhaps unprecedented in the history of the event.

Another athlete-centered article is “The Masterful Technique of Jarret Eaton.” In this article, I take a look at the development of the former Syracuse star who is well on his way to becoming one of the best 110 hurdlers in the world. Specifically, I break down the technical prowess of Eaton, as he has caught my eye as being an outstanding technician in the races that I’ve seen.

“Trust Your Speed” is a prototypical teaching article in which I emphasize the importance of not getting overly preoccupied with technique, to the point where speed and aggression are sacrificed. In the article, I also make the point that heavy drilling from the onset of a hurdler’s career is essential if a hurdler is to get to a point where he or she trusts her speed as he or she needs to.

“Olympic Trials Preview” is exactly what the title of the article suggests it is – a look at the favorites to make the USA Olympic team in each of the four hurdling events.

This month’s workout, “Drill Progression Workout,” connects directly with the “Trust Your Speed” article, as it gives a sample workout that serves the purpose of teaching rhythm and technique and then concluding with speed.

In “Eat Healthily, Run Faster,” I make some insights inspired by a recent ESPN article about the dietary habits of professional basketball players. The ESPN article, written by Jackie MacMullan, explains how NBA players’ performance is affected by some of the meal choices they make. I take this concept and apply it to the hurdles.

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

Thanks most of all to you, subscribers, for your loyalty. Best of luck to those of you competing through the summer.

Steve McGill