Letter from the Editor, December 2015
Hello readers! The December 2015 issue of The Hurdle Magazine is full of instructional articles, as it seems there are a lot of hurdlers out there with a lot of questions about training and technique
In “Bent Lead Leg vs. Straight Lead Leg,” I take a look at this age-old argument about lead leg mechanics. While I am technically an advocate of the bent leg, I explain how the argument itself is an oversimplification of what we actually want the lead leg to do. I prefer to call myself a proponent of a lead leg that cycles, which is what I explain in-depth in the article.
A companion article to the above article focuses on the women’s 100 meter hurdle race. Here, I argue that women have no need whatsoever for a straight lead leg. In this article, I use the style of Sally Pearson as my model for how a female hurdler should cycle the lead leg (and the trail leg) in clearing each hurdle.
As I’ve been receiving some correspondence from coaches struggling to get their beginner hurdlers rolling, one of the articles in this month’s issue, “Teaching Aggression,” addresses that very issue. In it, I share several strategies I have used successfully in getting beginning hurdlers to attack the barriers without hesitancy or caution. Trust me, there are few things more difficult that a hurdle coach will ever do, so patience is of the utmost importance.
In “Why Drills Matter,” I explain the importance of drilling for the hurdler when it comes to mastering technique and rhythm. Many track coaches who lack expertise in the hurdles underestimate the importance of hurdle drills to the overall training program for the hurdler. The most common complaint I hear among hurdlers at all levels is “we don’t hurdle enough.”
Fittingly, the last article in this month’s issue, “The Coach’s Role: To Teach or Win?”, takes a look at the coach’s role as teacher in a track world that increasingly demands more bottom-line success.
This month’s workout, “200m Speed Build-ups,” is geared toward the 300/400 meter hurdler, which is a bit ironic, as the other articles have a 100/110m hurdle focus. The workout is designed to address late-race fatigue and to develop late-race strength.
Thank you readers for your loyalty and for your love of the hurdles. You’re the ones who keep me going!
Hope you enjoy the upcoming Christmas holiday. If you profess to a different faith, that’s cool too. Spend time with family, take some time to reflect on the past year, and gear up for a fantastic 2016. See you on the other side of the new year.
Steve McGill
