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The Quarter
Stride Strong Coaching’s Sort-of Weekly Newsletter, The Quarter.
The Quarter No. 69 - Problem Solving
I remember when I was in high school and I was reading about Arthur Lydiard training Peter Snell and co. back in the 60’s. They used to do relatively complex hill workouts on a hill with different grades of steepness and flat, running hard both uphill and downhill. I used to think, “Wow, it is crazy how that hill was exactly perfect for that workout!”
As I grew older I realized that it wasn’t the hill which was perfect. It was the session which Lydiard wrote utilizing that specific hill that was so good, not the hill itself. Coaching is all problem solving. Athletes will always have areas of strength and weakness. Understanding different races and their demands allows a coach to tailor training to each athlete, ensuring they are working on the most productive aspects of physiology and psychology.
An openness and willingness to learn and grow are essential in both athletes and coaches. It is rare that the best program for one year is the best program the next year, at least if it is exactly replicated with the exact same emphasis. Small adjustments can make a big difference but sometimes they are necessary. We do not want to needlessly reinvent the wheel but we also do not want to clunk down the road forever on a flat. If you are unsure how your wheel looks feel free to reach out!
November 8th, 2020