Letter from the Editor, November 2018

Hello readers, and welcome to the December 2018 edition of The Hurdle Magazine. This month’s issue is heavy on article related to topics having to do with coaching philosophy, which I felt would be relevant as we head into the beginning of the indoor competitive season. In addition, freelance writer Melinda Burris Willms has contributed another outstanding article.

In “L-Carnitine Supplementation: Can it Improve Your Performance,” Willms takes a detailed look at the positives and negatives of this supplement that has become very popular among athletes of various sports in recent years.

In “What Drills Should I D0?” I talk about the importance of doing drills correctly instead of focusing on which drills one should be doing. A lot of coaches and athletes seem to think that doing the “right” drills will help them fix their technical mistakes. But the key, as I explain in the article, lies more in making sure drills are done properly so that bad habits don’t become further ingrained.

In “Volume vs. Speed,” I talk about whether or not volume-heavy training is more effective than speed-heavy training, and how my own philosophy regarding that topic has evolved over the years.

In “Practicing at Race Spacing,” I explain why I very rarely will have my sprint hurdlers practice with the hurdles at full spacing. I discuss situations where it may be appropriate, but also explain why it is often foolhardy.

This month’s workout, “100 Meter Repeats Workout,” is an old-school speed-endurance workout that is good for hurdlers who don’t respond well to longer distances like 300s and 400s.

Finally, for this month’s great race, I take a look back at one of my favorite races of all time – the 2007 Reebok Grand Prix, where Liu Xiang overtook Terrence Trammell over the final barrier for a 12.92-12.95 victory after Trammell had gotten out to an incredibly fast start.

Enjoy the articles, and thank you for your support. I hope everybody is off to a good start this indoor season.

Steve McGill