On Coaching with Magness & Marcus

Debating specialization vs generalization in athletics, exploring the complexity of performance optimization, emphasizing the importance of connecting the dots in learning and training, embracing the art of racing, finding the balance between specialization and generalization, understanding the 'meta game', and book recommendations.

Big concepts get thrown around a lot these days; Marginal Gains, 10,000 hours, the 80/20 rule, the 1% rule. Everyone has their own phrase or concept for helping take performance to the next level. In this episode of On Coaching, Jon and I take a look at two similar, but slightly different concepts. Using Ross…

Are you coaching the person or are you coaching the work? In this episode of the On Coaching Podcast with Magness & Marcus, we delve into the difference between coaching people and the system of running. One is about seeing each athlete as a living, breathing, emotional mess of a person, and the other is…

It’s time to talk about the marathon! The mysterious race that causes more problems than all other races combined. In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of the marathon. How does training change from the track to the marathon? Do all we need to do is extend our long runs and tempos? NO! What’s the…

Discover the importance of mastering the art of racing and the need to move away from time-focused narratives. Appreciate the entire race and its impact, and the significance of flexibility in racing strategy. Evaluate and discuss race performance for improvement. Push oneself and prioritize skill development rather than fixating on results.

The hosts discuss the significance of interval training in coaching and the importance of creativity in interval sets. They explore the psychological component of interval training and the difference between line cook and sous chef. They also discuss interval training for intermediate runners and the importance of strategic decision making in training and races. They explore the process of qualifying for championship meets and shifting from a finite to infinite mindset in distance running. Finally, they talk about taking risks in races and combining artistry with science.

For the end of 2016, Jon and I take a look forward. What is the state of track and field in the world and where do we go from here. We get things started by asking what each of our utopian track and field worlds would look like, before delving into the problems with our…

Coach Vern Gambetta joins the hosts to discuss high-performance coaching, including the role of performance data and the value of asking athletes how they feel. The importance of understanding, sensitivity, and humility in coaching is explored, as well as the decline in authenticity and ethical values in sports and fashion. A story exemplifying high performance coaching is also shared.

The seasons done, the races have been run, and the outcomes are determined. Whether they were good or bad, we have to move forward. As a coach and athlete it’s about figuring out what lessons to learn, and how to re-energize yourself (and your team) for the next goal that awaits. In this episode of…

“He’s a competitor!” We’ve all had athletes that exemplified the act of competing. They show up on race day, run their guts out, rise to the occasion when it’s asked of them, and put their teammates on their back, instead of only being concerned with themselves. What makes up this ability? Is it innate? Research…