Letter from the Editor, September 2015

Hello readers, it’s hard to believe that it’s been two years this month since the inaugural issue of The Hurdle Magazine. But here we are two years later, still going strong. To those of you who have been with us from the beginning, thank you! For those who have joined us somewhere along the way, thanks to you as well. This  month’s issue has more good stuff for you to digest and incorporate into your hurdling landscape.

In “The Shubenkov Factor” I take a look at the hurdling technique of 2015 world champion Sergey Shubenkov of Russia. I point out what I feel to be his major strengths as well as some weaknesses that can be improved upon. Overall I am well impressed with Shubenkov and believe he will be a force to be reckoned with heading into the Olympic year of 2016.

In “Aries Merritt, a Warrior for the Ages,” I pay tribute to Merritt, who battled kidney disease during his world championship run, as well as for the past two years, and did so without letting anyone know. Merritt to me represents the type of quiet courageous that I’ve always admired in hurdlers over the years, and he represents it to an extreme degree, as even a life-threatening illness couldn’t stop him from chasing after his goals.

This month’s workout is a workout focused on developing leg strength, and is a workout that can be useful for short and long hurdlers in the fall season.

One of the components of the leg strength workout is backward sprinting, so of course I had to add an article, “The Benefits of Backward Sprinting,” explaining why sprinting backwards can be beneficial, and why hurdlers and hurdle coaches should consider incorporating it into their training regimen. My college coach routinely had us do backward sprints uphill, and I strongly feel it helped my explosiveness in the hurdles.

“Dealing with the Wind” is an article that provides tips on that very issue – dealing with headwinds, tailwinds, and crosswinds. It might not be an article with immediate relevance, seeing as how the competitive season is behind us, but don’t forget to refer back to it once the hurdling workouts get started again.

This month’s deeper article focuses on some thoughts of martial arts legend Bruce Lee in regards to maintaining one’s composure in pressure situations, and learning to see beyond the illusion of failure. The title of the article, “Be One with the Hurdle,” comes from a quote from Renaldo Nehemiah.

This month’s issue was a one-man show again, so I’m more than willing to listen to anyone who might be willing to contribute an article. I will pay a little something for your time. Email me at smcgill@hurdlesfirst.com if you’re interested.

Thanks for your loyalty – to the magazine and to the hurdles – and enjoy the fall season.

Steve McGill