Landon Evans, who has both an RD and CSCS, shared a blue collar presentation of what he does at the CSCCA yesterday. Landon always keeps me in check to ensure that what I am experimenting is practical and valid. He pushes me in both directions and it's nice to see a no-nonsense approach to conditioning and training. My favorite slide was the rhythm of testing and how open he was to showing best p [...]

One of the mysteries of Sprinting is how brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is elevated at rest with international level sprinters in Brazil over their domestic counterparts? With strength training not showing any real changes or adaptations to BDNF, why are they elevated? Some things are brewing for Rio. One sub 10 sprinter recently tested at 4800 pg/mL at rest and nearly 8000 pg/mL post r [...]

This past weekend, I presented at the NSCA BC Provincial Clinic on Biomotor Development for Speed Power Athletes. Here's my slidedeck from the presentation. As usual, I'll try to answer any questions on the presentation in the forum. Biomotor Development for the Speed-Power Athlete from Mike Young [...]

Some interesting studies on fiber changes makes me wonder what are the best ways to develop an athlete over years? Charlie was convinced that weights were less important twenty years after Seoul, and much of the talk in blogs is about what is happening with monitoring bar speeds with Gymaware. For example, the biochemical and histological changes of training are just as important as the biomechani [...]

The final installment is not a crude summary but a reflection of best practices observed by the best internationally. Being firsthand witness to some of the masters, it was humbling to see how much craftsmanship and system based thinking exists when collaboration with great people occurs. So often I have seen coaches limited my medical professionals, coaches ruining the therapy of amazing talents, [...]

In 1973-74 while attending graduate school at Stanford University I also had the opportunity to coach the jumpers and decathletes. This gave the opportunity to apply what I had learned with more mature male athletes. It was also the opportunity to work with Payton Jordan, the track coach at Stanford who was a pioneer in weight training. He had worked with a man named John Jesse who authored many b [...]

After graduating from Fresno State I went to University of California Santa Barbara for my teaching certification. While there I was fortunate to take a class from Sherman Button on Fundamental of Conditioning. He was way ahead of his time with the material and concepts that he presented. (I appreciate that even more as look back at what he taught us) It was a great class because of his comprehens [...]

I thought it would interesting to share with you a personal approach to the evolution of strength training as I have seen it using my experiences as an athlete and coach who has been involved in strength training for 50 years. When I began weight training in 1963, it was not commonly accepted as a method of training, in fact weight training was discouraged. There were concerns that you would becom [...]

Recently we had a large discussion about distance running and strength training. As Carl mentioned recently it’s important to discuss some of the things we actually have done. A couple winters ago I did a presentation for a "Dutch" clinic. No, not the country but instead a great clinic where your only payment is that each coach must present on a topic. You know “Going Dutch!” That winter D [...]

I've been training with the goal of qualifying for USA Weightlifting National Championships as a masters athlete (I recently turned 36) and winning a couple masters National Championships before I turn 40. For training today, I used a leg extension machine. Yesterday I did too. Tomorrow I'll probably do the same. I'll do some hamstring curls too. For at least the next 9 weeks, my training plan [...]