Letter from the Editor, November 2015
Hello readers! The November 2015 issue of The Hurdle Magazine picks up where the October issue left off, with a look back at the 2015 outdoor season, this time focusing on the 400 meter hurdles instead of the 100/110’s. While things didn’t go as well for the Americans as expected, the World Championships still brought with it many thrilling storylines, the most thrilling being Nicholas’ Betts 47.79 race for the gold.
In “Are the Sprint Hurdles Really the Sprint Hurdles?” I discuss the fact that elite 110 hurdlers in particular do not have the ability to sprint in a race, and I argue the point that they therefore should adjust their training and their drilling accordingly.
Along those same lines, this month’s workout – the “Cycle Ladder Drill,” is a drill designed to help the higher level hurdlers to manage their speed between the hurdles while maintaining a fluid, unbroken rhythm over the hurdles.
As I’ve been getting some questions from master’s hurdlers about training methods, I decided to write an article addressing those questions. The article “Training Tips for the Masters Hurdler” provides suggestions for how often to hurdle, how to incorporate hurdling into the training regimen, how to prevent injury, and how to incorporate speed into the training regimen, all while maintaining the busy schedule of an adult with a family and a job.
In “Positive Thought or No Thought,” I take a look at martial arts legend Bruce Lee’s assertion that highest level performance is achieved while in a state of “repose” – a state of calm and tranquility combined with a heightened awareness and focus. In the article, I also argue against the notion that “positive” thinking brings about the best results.
Finally, in light of Veteran’s day which just passed by, and in light of the Thanksgiving holiday that is on the horizon, I included an article in this issue that tells the story of one of my former athletes whom I consider a hero, and for whom I am very grateful. The article, “What Courage Looks Like,” tells the story of Jenna Pepe, a sprinter whom I coached five years ago and is now coaching at the high school level herself.
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 Thanksgiving holiday, and that it allows you an opportunity to detox from the grind and spend some time with people you love. Take care,
Steve McGill
