KRAENZLEIN, ALVIN 1876-1928Track-and-field championHurdling InnovatorAlvin Kraenzlein is one of the pivotal figures in the development of track and field. Historians of the sport recognize him as the father of straight-lead-leg hurdling (in which the first leg over the hurdle is kept straight and parallel to the ground). Hurdlers continue to employ this technique, which permits the athlete to clea [...]

I was talking to my friend and fellow coach Randy Gillon about improving the take-off to touch-down by a "work the dirt" method. I don't know Tony Veney that well but his name is brought up by Randy many times, as Tony has some nice words of wisdom of what we are trying to achieve with our training. The Cubans are an interesting set of track coaches as they have some fantastic insights. Here is [...]

Imagine that you are at a concert in Sevilla, after a stunning flamenco performance, clapping at a fast uniform pace, much like a heart beat while jogging. Even better, try it out right now, but stop after you reach twelve claps. Then do it again but this time execute the first, third, fifth, eighth, and eleventh claps loudly, and the remaining seven claps softly. Your clapping patte [...]

Just to cause more frustration I have posted this video of what's the limit? to share more about Zoology. In this clip we review a special insight to the thought process of excellence and my intent on the first post was to spark some thought about movement as a whole. When I view technique I like to create general motion patterns and a understanding of locomotion in general. Not just humans but n [...]

[...]

My latest project is working with a High School hurdler that is a junior here in Massachusetts. One can use low dose cuing with a shaping and piecing approach to allow for Self-Organization. My choice is to separate the mechanics of hurdles in to what are influenced by the stretch reflex of joints and what are truly conscious actions of the athlete. Another view is to see what is motor skill and w [...]

The take off in the hurdles represents the highest cause of errors in hurdles, yet they are rarely mapped out from a cause and effect point of view. Most hurdlers look visually at tape and assume that the what you see is a product of what you are trying to do. Regardless of what one feels, the underlying elements must be based on motor learning theory and practice with a backbone of physics. The p [...]

Murder at Golgotha: Revisiting the Most Famous Crime Scene in History , is a Sunday reading book, enjoyed after football ends. I read a lot of general science books and other nonfiction books to keep me balanced as track and field can cause insanity. One of the elements I like with general reading is coming back next year with as sense of well rounded thinking. Detective work and crime scene stori [...]

The lead arm should stay as close to how it is in normal sprinting motion as possible. The hand of the lead arm should never cross the nose of the face, and should never raise any higher than the forehead. The elbow should open up just wide enough for the trail leg to drive through in its upward motion. The elbow should never be in a position where it is higher than the hand. The lead arm should b [...]

The cut step is the last stride before the hurdle and the great hurdlers purposely alter the length and stride time in order to set up optimal take off. This is very difficult to teach as the step is so fast it can't be drilled effectively without proper coaching. I am not saying I am the expert on the cut step but many hurdlers need to set up their take off point optimally or they will find them [...]