
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 11, 2024 • 52min
237: Medium Dig Cycle: When and why to purposefully dig a hole in training.
Is it every worthwhile to dig yourself a hole? It turns out the answer is likely yes! In this episode we go through Jerry Schumacher’s medium dig cycle, Canova’s special block training, and much more. Learn when to go a little bit more, to get long lasting gains. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar…

5 snips
Mar 4, 2024 • 53min
236: Hard work vs. Overtraining: Finding the Sweet Spot for Optimal Adaptation:
Training is about adaptation. We have to apply the right stimulus that is just strong enough, without overwhelming us. It’s about embarrassing the body. In this episode, we discuss where the line is between overreaching and overtraining. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches…

Feb 26, 2024 • 59min
235: The science of Flow states: How to turn it on and recapture it when it’s gone.
Exploring the psychology of performance, focusing on flow states and optimal arousal levels; discussing the impact of caffeine, situational context, and familiar environments on focus and engagement. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration, connectivity, and belonging in achieving peak performance. Strategies for creating a conducive atmosphere for athletes and coping mechanisms to manage nerves and achieve a flow state. Exploring talent development, learning from failures, and achieving a flow state in sports.

5 snips
Feb 12, 2024 • 52min
234: The Science of Soviet Training Methods: A look back at the history of getting in shape.
In this episode we dive deep into the literature on soviet training. Yes, there was lots of drugs, but is there anything to learn? We go through circuits, strength training, periodization, and more. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+…

Feb 5, 2024 • 58min
233: Traits of a champion: Why some are better than rest
What separates the best from the rest? In this episode, we go into the characteristics of a champion, and how to cultivate them in anybody. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+…

Jan 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
232: Defining the Win: How to stay on track, have success, and have fun doing it.
Are you and your athletes on the same page in how you define success? Have you ever walked up to an athlete after a race, expecting them to be happy, but they are dejected? You were on different pages in how you define success. In this episode, we talk about defining the win. Steve &…

8 snips
Jan 22, 2024 • 1h 2min
231: The Athlete’s Hierarchy of Needs. Getting the basics down first
Decades ago, Abraham Maslow outlined a hierarchy of needs. We take this idea and translate it into athletic performance. What are the foundational level, how do we provide security for the athletes, where do workouts come in? We build the athletic pyramid of needs! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program…

Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 1min
230: Coaching the Modern Athlete: The Role of a Coach
The podcast discusses the changing role of coaches and the need to adapt to the modern athlete. It explores the challenges of coaching in a society that values instant gratification and the impact of information access on coach-athlete dynamics. The importance of stability, sleep, and balancing training with academic obligations is emphasized. The role of a coach in providing stability and perspective while navigating the power of technology and social media is discussed. The transformative impact of high school cross country coaches in guiding athletes towards passion and commitment is highlighted.

Jan 1, 2024 • 60min
229: Modern Coaching: Ways to Promote Transformation in a Transactional Environment
Explore the intriguing debate on transactional versus transformational coaching and its implications in today’s sports world. Discover how college athletics is shifting towards a transactional model due to NIL opportunities, impacting athlete relationships and recruitment. Delve into the importance of holistic athlete development in a culture fixated on statistics and social media fame. Learn how coaches can foster meaningful growth and resilience in athletes while emphasizing the value of hard work and clarity.

Dec 18, 2023 • 34min
228: Before and After the Key to Maximizing your Workouts
A lot of focus is on the workout for good reasons, but in this episode we look at how what you do before and after the workout impacts the quality during and adaptations from the workout. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education.…