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Genetic Potential - Obstacles = Personal Best

February 5, 2009 by Jimson Lee

If you followed this blog for a while, you’ve noticed I’ve tried to run parallels to the business world or just ordinary working class people. I made references to Pareto’s Principle as well as the PDCA Deming Cycle.

For those lucky to still have a job, ask yourself this question:

What is the role of your Boss or supervisor?

If you a Manager, what is your role to your peers?

Is it to work harder? So you’ll perform better?

No!

You Boss’ job is to remove obstacles and politics so you can do your job better and more efficiently.

That being said, the traditional model of coaching has always been:

Genetic potential + Training - Injuries = a PERSONAL BEST performance

This is the old method. It’s time to think outside the box, and outside of all the traditional crap such as the classic warm up and static stretches. Or classic 10×200 meter workouts where Intervals #7, #8, and #9 are pure garbage because they have butt-lock from lactic acid. Of course, interval #10 is always the fastest with everyone racing each other.

Here is a new thought:

Genetic potential - OBSTACLES - Injuries = a PERSONAL BEST performance

I have no doubt that Carl Lewis would have run fast with any coach. Of course, don’t break the egg (see the video: Jack Daniels and the Art and Science of Running). That is, run them to the ground (no pun intended) and see who is left surviving. It is fair to say Carl excelled under Coach Tom Tellez.

That doesn’t mean you should not attend a traditional seminar or conference like the USATF NPEP.

Sometimes, you just have to try new and innovative ways to clear those obstacles, instead of instilling long hard traditional training sessions.

Of course, injury prevention is the other half of the equation. Canadian 400 meter sprinter Tyler Christopher was a gifted athlete, but injury prone. Under Kevin Tyler’s coaching, sometimes all he did after the warm-up was 4×30 meters and called it quits for the day!

Kevin saw the obstacles that prevented him from running faster than his PR of 45-high to a 44.44!

If you’re looking for effective program designs for sprints, Latif Thomas has a complete online coaching program. Or Adarian Barr has some neat innovative products that helps you think outside the box.

Your role as a coach is to unlock the potential in each and every athlete, though winning the team championship is a nice bonus, too!
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Written by Jimson Lee · Filed Under Coaching, Success 

Comments

4 Responses to “Genetic Potential - Obstacles = Personal Best”

  1. Adarian on February 6th, 2009 7:36 am

    first sub 10 sec. 100 run 1968, first sub 11 sec. 100m for women 1973.
    After 41 and 36 years eating better, supplements, steroids,, better tracks, lighter shoes and so on, these are still the benchmark times for the 100m.
    And for the 400m, sub 45 sec 400m men 1960, women sub 50 sec 1974

    Why?
    Old and outdated ideas, not bad or wrong ideas just old and outdated.
    But lets us think we are doing such a great job of coaching in track and field.
    Time for new and innovative that is for sure.

  2. TonyO on February 10th, 2009 4:52 pm

    TRue, but we are human and evolution takes a long time. Cheetahs run fast, up to 70 MPH, but is there a cheetah out there that can run 100mph? Probably not. With all the running and chasing, will they evolve to be faster? maybe in 100,000 years. Same with humans. I believe that the training today is more advanced, I see it in the NFL. Where do you find athletes who weight 250 - 275 pounds and can run the 1st 40 yards as fast as a world class sprinter, and jump higher than NBA players?

  3. The 7 Scientific Principles of Training | SpeedEndurance.com on July 9th, 2009 11:58 pm

    […] at the end of the day, you really have to use your gut instinct, “think outside the box”, and REMOVE ALL THE OBSTACLES.  Usually the biggest obstacle for an athlete is the lack of money & support for basic […]

  4. Asafa Powell and Carmelita Jeter - Peak Training Age | SpeedEndurance.com on October 19th, 2009 12:38 pm

    […] someone simply removed the obstacles so her true potential will shine?  (though a legal 10.64 is more like a blazing sun, comet, […]

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