
On Coaching with Magness & Marcus
Coaches Steve Magness and Jon Marcus team up to bring you an insider’s view on coaching. Taking you inside the thoughts and conversations that usually occur behind the scenes. They bring a diverse background having both worked with athletes at the collegiate and professional level. They hope to bring a mixture of science, old-fashioned wisdom, and a touch of philosophy to help understand the process of coaching and maximizing endurance performance. For more information visit www.ScienceOfRunning.com
Latest episodes

Mar 15, 2021 • 1h 5min
Episode 130: When Is it Time to Pull the Plug?
Coaching is easy when everything is going smoothly. But how do we know when to pull the plug on an athletes workout or season? What do we do when an athlete is struggling in a workout? Do we give them more rest, adjust the pace, or pull the plug? When a season is going in…

Mar 1, 2021 • 1h 4min
Episode 129: Getting Race Ready- Preparing to Perform After A Layoff
How do you get ready to race after a long layoff? This might be something that you may be facing do to COVID or coming back from injury. In this episode we dive into how to get back into the groove of racing! Steve & Jon Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Bill Bowerman’s High Performance…

Feb 9, 2021 • 1h 16min
Episode 128: Key Markers of Highly Effective Training:
The podcast explores effective training strategies for athletes, including the importance of specificity and timing. It discusses different training methods for different types of athletes and the usefulness of time trials in assessing performance. The hosts stress the need for understanding individual needs and measuring the effectiveness of training. They also highlight the timeline for the body to absorb a workout and reflect on the value of historical training strategies.

Jan 31, 2021 • 1h 5min
Episode 127: Training Stimulus Threshold and Recoverability: The reason why you aren’t running as fast as you can.
Everyone is different. We all recover at different rates for different workouts. In this episode, we explore why some athletes need work work, why others need more recovery, and how to identify and modulate your training to give each athlete what they need. Steve & Jon Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Athletic Development by Vern…

Jan 17, 2021 • 1h 6min
Episode 126: Strength Training Outside of the Weigh Room
Strength training can occur anywhere. It’s not dependent on the weight room. In this episode we explore ways to develop strength and power outside of the weight room. From utilizing sprints and hills to bounding, plyos, and throwing around heavy objects outside, we cover ways in which runners can develop strength outside of the traditional…

Dec 28, 2020 • 1h 5min
Episode 125: Making Adjustments to Training
The hosts discuss the importance of modifying workouts. They explore factors for a good marathon and adjusting training sessions. They emphasize the importance of pace and progression. They also discuss adjusting training to desired adaptation. Coaches should be able to predict and adjust training plans. Understanding and making adjustments in training is crucial, and they mention SuperRunning.net as a resource.

16 snips
Dec 14, 2020 • 1h 4min
Episode 124: Increasing Mileage: When, Why, and How.
In this podcast, the hosts discuss the effectiveness of the 10% rule for increasing mileage in running and emphasize the importance of understanding one's limiting factor and strength. They also delve into the impact of fatty acids as a fueling substrate, the concept of adaptation in training, and the significance of considering individual responses and long-term impacts when increasing mileage. Additionally, they introduce a new feature called Training Talks and the Scholar Program.

Dec 7, 2020 • 1h 18min
Episode 123: Why Coaches Matter Now More Than Ever
This podcast emphasizes the significance of coaches in athletes' lives, from shaping their identity to providing structure and encouragement. It also explores the importance of deep connections, embracing downtime, and utilizing imagination for positive change. Coaches play a vital role in managing athletes' loads and are responsible for being positive influences and role models.

16 snips
Nov 8, 2020 • 1h 10min
Episode 122: Periodization in the Good Times and Bad.
Periodization sounds complex, but it’s really just how we plan and organize our training. Do you build a big base and then go short and fast with speedwork? Or employ a blended or mixed system? In this episode we break down periodization and discuss how to use it not only when things are going well,…

Sep 27, 2020 • 1h 3min
Episode 121: You’re not working hard enough and you’re not recovering deep enough.
Hard days hard, easy days easy. How much validity does that saying have? How hard should our hard workouts be? Should we jog slowly on recovery days or make them steady? In this episode, we dive into the balance between hard workouts and recovery days. Steve & Jon Resources Mentioned in the Podcast The Stress…