Back in 2016, you gave a presentation at GAIN about the number one metric that correlated to success with your runners: attendance at training sessions. I took that back to our club and used it. With limited resources (no GPS or analytics staff), that metric was affordable and doable. Ten years later (!!!), I'm still measuring it. Our best athletes are at the top of the table: as you said. Not enough data for a journal article, but enough for me to keep hammering home the message. Our club motto is: Turn Up, Stand Tall, Try Hard.
That’s awesome, James. So cool to hear. He really does. I’ve talked to his coach and it’s spot on. He’s really good at not missing days, keeping the training manageable enough where there’s few things that get in the way.
If there’s one ‘secret’ it’s that. Ironically, coaches often get in the way of those by making training that just isn’t sustainable.
Tiny typo in your article when you mention Derek Ibbotson btw. Apart from holding the world record, he was the world's first four-minute miler as he ran exactly 4:00.0 in 1958.
I remember watching El Guerrouj run the WR when I was at school, that was an incredible moment for me which led me to train for track at school, Josh’s tenacity in pursuing this goal was admirable to see. What a feat! How many (or specifically who) will now aim for this now that every elite middle distance runner knows it’s possible is the next question!
You can call it mental focus, I call it something much less gracious. He comes off as a self-absorbed elite - just a faster version from a long tradition of egoists. But we only seem to care about results.
I know what you mean but I think that’s maybe a little harsh. Kerr’s talked before about how events like this can be good for the sport. Can he get carried away? Sure, we saw that in the olympics with his duel with JI. But his run yesterday was different. He was running his own race, had done the prep (and shared it publicly) and drummed up interest in the event. He’s shared the process, not just the result.
It's interesting that even though he has the world record for the mile his medal record is not great. He has not won an Olympic gold, although he did win the Worlds gold recentlt. So it is not clear that he can produce consistent world beating performances at big events like Usain Bolt for example. He is already 28 so not sure age is on his side.
Back in 2016, you gave a presentation at GAIN about the number one metric that correlated to success with your runners: attendance at training sessions. I took that back to our club and used it. With limited resources (no GPS or analytics staff), that metric was affordable and doable. Ten years later (!!!), I'm still measuring it. Our best athletes are at the top of the table: as you said. Not enough data for a journal article, but enough for me to keep hammering home the message. Our club motto is: Turn Up, Stand Tall, Try Hard.
Josh Kerr seems to echo the same ideas.
That’s awesome, James. So cool to hear. He really does. I’ve talked to his coach and it’s spot on. He’s really good at not missing days, keeping the training manageable enough where there’s few things that get in the way.
If there’s one ‘secret’ it’s that. Ironically, coaches often get in the way of those by making training that just isn’t sustainable.
Ooh, I like that last sentence: you are spot on. If the workout is 'winning' on Instagram, it probably isn't sustainable!
Tiny typo in your article when you mention Derek Ibbotson btw. Apart from holding the world record, he was the world's first four-minute miler as he ran exactly 4:00.0 in 1958.
Good article highlighting his central approach and absolutely where younger athletes should focus in on for success beyond the short-term.
That last half split is all the evidence needed to prove his stacking of days/weeks/months/years. Thanks for spelling that out for us!
I remember watching El Guerrouj run the WR when I was at school, that was an incredible moment for me which led me to train for track at school, Josh’s tenacity in pursuing this goal was admirable to see. What a feat! How many (or specifically who) will now aim for this now that every elite middle distance runner knows it’s possible is the next question!
The mind is 90% of the struggle but you better have stacked some serious work! Great Article as always Coach Magness.
Absolutely, remarkable self belief and commitment, he's done us so proud 💪❤️
You can call it mental focus, I call it something much less gracious. He comes off as a self-absorbed elite - just a faster version from a long tradition of egoists. But we only seem to care about results.
I know what you mean but I think that’s maybe a little harsh. Kerr’s talked before about how events like this can be good for the sport. Can he get carried away? Sure, we saw that in the olympics with his duel with JI. But his run yesterday was different. He was running his own race, had done the prep (and shared it publicly) and drummed up interest in the event. He’s shared the process, not just the result.
It's interesting that even though he has the world record for the mile his medal record is not great. He has not won an Olympic gold, although he did win the Worlds gold recentlt. So it is not clear that he can produce consistent world beating performances at big events like Usain Bolt for example. He is already 28 so not sure age is on his side.