Free Track and Field News Magazines (e-magazine)

In this world of 140 character SMS tweets, and single picture Instagram photos, it’s nice to revert to the old style magazine where you can flip the pages at your leisure…

… including bringing the magazine to the toilet or bathroom for number 1 (or is it number 2? I always get them mixed up)

Well, sort of..

We live in a digital world. Newspapers are shutting down their newsprint plants, CD and DVD stores are closing, and everyone has their head down totally absorbed with their mobile or tablet device…

… and yes, sometimes people bring their iPads to the bathroom.  (Are YOU guilty of that?)  I hope you wash your hands…

Here are four track DIGITAL magazines I subscribe to, and for free.

Because free is good.

Trackside by TrackNation

Headed by editor-in-chief Travis Masters, the inaugural edition is from TrackNation where their mission statement is:

To Bring The World Of Track And Field Together Under One Common Goal That Inspires Us All To Become One Voice. To Provide A Passion And Dedication That Unifies Us For A Positive Effect On All The World. Taking The Voice Of One And Making It The Voice Of A Nation.

Track & Field Pulse eMagazine by TrackAlerts

Headed by managing director Anthony Foster, this magazine is based in Jamaica and covers the track news for the Caribbean.  If you love Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, you’ll love this magazine.

Techniques Magazine by USTFCCCA

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members encompassing 94% of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA as well as a number of state high school coaches associations.

The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches’ interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field

SpikesMag

This is the first “blog” that uses Tumblr for their website.  Their tagline is THE NEW HEROES OF ATHLETICS.

Across the magazine/website is a fresh take on athletics. They are all about hailing the heroes and confronting the villains. Athletics has a world of stories waiting to be told, and SPIKES is there to tell them, in its own inimitable voice.

Best non-Free Coaching Magazines

And now for the good stuff… well worth the money, in my opinion.

IAAF New Studies in Athletics

The IAAF New Studies in Athletics is published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Subscriptions can be obtained from the publishers of NSA, Meyer & Meyer in Germany, or by going to the IAAF website.

The annual subscription is $50 USD plus shipping costs of $25 USD. Back issues can be ordered for $10.
Since the IAAF New Studies in Athletics is a paid publication

Fast Forward and Track Coach Magazine

In the spring of 2013, USATF’s member magazine Fast Forward went purely digital and significantly expanded its capabilities both within the digital edition and the app version of the magazine. For the first time in the magazine’s history, links to related internet stories allow additional reading and the inclusion of web videos are options now within the pages of Fast Forward.

USA Track & Field, Track Coach (formerly Track Technique) $20/year, 4 issues a year is available via Track and Field News.