I was just reading this, and came upon this section:
"At the risk of dismissing its value, the coaches probably gained enormous value from other coaches' presentations - Bob Bowman (Michael Phelps' coach) would have heard some valuable tips from Terrence Mahon (Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor, among others), and vice versa, but I dare say that the science would not have changed the way any of the coaches are approaching altitude training for their athletes. They already had a strategy, and I doubt whether the science showed them anything to improve or change it.
And this is a typical problem (...)"
Is it? I don't see a problem with success. Here are some of the most successful coaches in the World explaining some of the methods that got them this success, and for (some) sports scientists, it is a problem if it goes against the science, which when it comes to endurance training still has huge gaps.
The problem I see is scientists that instead of looking for the scientific basis for success that I am sure is behind the success of those coaches, prefer to throw rocks from their precariously founded ivory towers.
The author goes on to expand on how he sees coaching as "the ability of the coach to engage in a scientific process", which is something I strongly disagree, and it shows the traditional lack of understanding that (some) sports scientists have of the coaching process.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Paulo's Mailbag
Reader "hal_jordan_1" posted this on the comments section of this blog:
"ok, this is unrelated to your post but it's something that bugs me. You should seriously rip this guy appart, he is loosing it. Not only Wellington has shitty technique, now all the TBB's that have gotten FISTed by him got good results because of him, starting with Biscay.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/cadence_P2539875/
"
Dear "hal_jordan_1",
Thank you for pointing me to that thread. So you mean to tell me that someone with zero coaching credentials or creditability is posting nonsensical and delusional pseudo-advice??? You mean to tell me that someone is wrong on the Internet???? My goodness... that almost never happens, especially on that site... ;-)
Whenever you get riled up by what some people write, I recommend you to read the cartoon below. I find it very soothing :-)
"ok, this is unrelated to your post but it's something that bugs me. You should seriously rip this guy appart, he is loosing it. Not only Wellington has shitty technique, now all the TBB's that have gotten FISTed by him got good results because of him, starting with Biscay.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/cadence_P2539875/
"
Dear "hal_jordan_1",
Thank you for pointing me to that thread. So you mean to tell me that someone with zero coaching credentials or creditability is posting nonsensical and delusional pseudo-advice??? You mean to tell me that someone is wrong on the Internet???? My goodness... that almost never happens, especially on that site... ;-)
Whenever you get riled up by what some people write, I recommend you to read the cartoon below. I find it very soothing :-)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Not that I am keeping score...
Back in January, I wrote some blogs regarding the USAT HP program, and it turned into a UK versus US competition. Not that I am keeping score, but I thought this article was a good follow-up.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Culture of excellence
I was reading this article, and I noticed the following quote from Shane Sutton, the British Cycling Head Coach:
"Dave [Performance Director for British Cycling] always said if we’re not in the top three in our field we shouldn’t be in the building.”
When looking for world-class results, it's not only up to the athletes to strive for excellence. The culture of excellence should be present from top to bottom and be a mission for every single member of the organization.
"Dave [Performance Director for British Cycling] always said if we’re not in the top three in our field we shouldn’t be in the building.”
When looking for world-class results, it's not only up to the athletes to strive for excellence. The culture of excellence should be present from top to bottom and be a mission for every single member of the organization.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Generous
I sometimes hear the word "generous" to compliment this or that coach. Someone compliments this or that coach saying that he/she is generous with their knowledge.
And I always find this funny, because the best coaches I know are not generous with their knowledge. In fact, when talking to people that are not their athletes, they hardly talk about training or coaching. Of course, some of them are somewhat secretive. But most of them know that without in-depth knowledge about an athlete and his training background, it is very easy to just give out the wrong kind of advice. So it is better to just keep your mouth shut.
What most people don't realize is that those that offer unsolicited advice and are always eager to share their "knowledge", are either doing it in order to generate business for them or because they seek validation from these interactions with athletes. Or both. They are not doing it for you, they are doing it for them.
And I always find this funny, because the best coaches I know are not generous with their knowledge. In fact, when talking to people that are not their athletes, they hardly talk about training or coaching. Of course, some of them are somewhat secretive. But most of them know that without in-depth knowledge about an athlete and his training background, it is very easy to just give out the wrong kind of advice. So it is better to just keep your mouth shut.
What most people don't realize is that those that offer unsolicited advice and are always eager to share their "knowledge", are either doing it in order to generate business for them or because they seek validation from these interactions with athletes. Or both. They are not doing it for you, they are doing it for them.
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