Friday, May 08, 2015
Matthew Maton Sub-Four Attempt Tonight
Can you name the 5 USA high school runners to dip under the 4 minute mile without looking it up?
Thursday, May 07, 2015
“THE COMPETITIVE MOMENT”
by Coach “Peanut” Harms
While much has been written about the physical and psychological preparation for the “COMPETITIVE MOMENT” in the various sports and amount of literature available dealing with the sequence of events which guides an athlete through the actual competitive experience is limited.
In the next few paragraphs I will take a psychological, pseudo philosophical look at the “Moment” in the sport of running. The period I refer to is the time from the sound of the gun to the crossing of the finish line.
I refer to the “COMPETITVE MOMENT” in Cross Country/Track as being in the “Eye of the Hurricane” or as a “microcosm of life” whereas numerous pressures and occurrences are all happening in a short period of time. The trick is to remain calm despite all of the confusion. These are the moments when all of the flood gates are open-adrenalin is flowing at fever pitch and you are there to match your abilities and your training with your opponents. The manner in which you react to this moment depends on several factors, the most important one being the amount of preparation (training) you have done for the event. There is a direct correlation between the amount of PREPARATION you have and the level of CONFIDENCE available to you. CONFIDENCE is the KEY that opens the DOOR to the world of potentially successful performances! How you manage your confidence determines whether you walk through that door or not. PREPARATION has allowed you to approach this with limited apprehension. From this point on the decisions you make, how you manage the stress of competition determines whether it’ll be positive (exciting) or negative (anxious/nervous). Of course there are other lesser factors which contribute to a positive experience but CONFIDENCE THROUGH PREPARATION is the foundation; KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT are the keys!
THE START
Everyone on the line is going through the same anticipation. Anxiety is limited by confidence through preparation. It is important for the athlete to realize HE/SHE is in control of his or her own destiny. Concentration should be on the task at hand and the internal control through pace judgment and common sense will get you off to a good, solid start.
THE RACE
After settling into the race the athlete should practice EVALUATION of the first several moments of the race. This evaluation process should take place during the actual “HEAT OF THE RACE.” Sample questions could be, “Where am I in the pack?” or “Where are my teammates?” If systems are go YOU have prepared YOURSELF to approach “THE CRITICAL STAGE OF THE COMPETITIVE MOMENT”!
CRITICAL STAGE – “THE RED LINE GOES ON!!!!”
The athlete should not be frightened by the questioning of his/her commitment at some point in the race. I believe every runner goes through this stage and the ENTIRE RACE depends: A) RECOGNITION OF THE MOMENT, B) UNDERSTANDING THE MOMENT, C) SUCCESSFULLY MANAGING THE MOMENT, AND D) PROCEEDING CONFIDENTLY BEYOND THE MOMENT.
It usually happens like this: after a smooth start you settle into your race – at some point, be it a hill, a stiff challenge from an opponent, a fall in the mud, etc., you instinctively place your finger on an imaginary panic button.
You have now reached what I refer to the “RHETORICAL STAGE OF YOUR RACE,” the stage at which you being conversing with yourself as to what you are going to do about this challenge. How you reach to this challenge (there will usually be more than one) will determine whether you have a positive experience or a negative experience. Emulating the moment “in practice” is critical in athletes’ preparation for actual competition. A more illustrative analogy would find two sides to the “CONVERSATION.”
“The DEVIL—MR./MS. NEGATIVE” saying things like, “Back Off! You’re too tired!” or “Slow Down!! You’ve never beaten this girl!” or “You’re not a Hill Runner!!” or “You’re worthless, that’s why your boyfriend left you!” THIS DEVIL WILL SAY ANYTHING TO CONVINCE YOU THAT YOUR BEST JUST ISN’T WORTHWHILE!!!
On the other hand and fighting just as hard (Hopefully Harder!!) is the
REALISTIC, TRUTHFUL, CALM “ANGEL OF GOOD PERFORMANCES—MR.MS. POSITIVE!!” He or she is saying things like, “You’re in GREAT SHAPE and READY TO MAKE A MOVE!!” or “WORKOUTS HAVE BEEN GREAT!! I’VE IMPROVED EVERY WEEK & I AIN’T FINISHED YET!!” or I’M GONNA MAKE MY MOVE AT THE THREE AND TAKE CHARGE OF THIS GROUP!!”
You get the picture. The best way to manage this as well as any “stressful” event is to ARM YOURSELF WITH SO MUCH REAL CONFIDENCE THROUGH CONSISTENT, HARD, COMMON SENSE TRAINING THAT THE DEVIL CAN’T POSSIBLY WIN OUT. Better yet, CONCENTRATE ON THE TAST AT HAND and don’t enter into conversation with yourself—JUST SHUT UP AND RUN!!! At the very least, every time you race put the conversation further and further back in your race.
REMEMBER-THE ATHLETE IS IN CONTROL OF HIS/HER COMPETITIVE DESTINY!!
In conclusion, we should train our athletes about the recognition, understanding, managing and going beyond these “CRITICAL MOMENTS” in the competitive experience. Most of all each athlete should “ARM” themselves with consistent, common sense training, which would prevent them from talking themselves out of a positive, DESERVED, COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE.
While much has been written about the physical and psychological preparation for the “COMPETITIVE MOMENT” in the various sports and amount of literature available dealing with the sequence of events which guides an athlete through the actual competitive experience is limited.
In the next few paragraphs I will take a psychological, pseudo philosophical look at the “Moment” in the sport of running. The period I refer to is the time from the sound of the gun to the crossing of the finish line.
I refer to the “COMPETITVE MOMENT” in Cross Country/Track as being in the “Eye of the Hurricane” or as a “microcosm of life” whereas numerous pressures and occurrences are all happening in a short period of time. The trick is to remain calm despite all of the confusion. These are the moments when all of the flood gates are open-adrenalin is flowing at fever pitch and you are there to match your abilities and your training with your opponents. The manner in which you react to this moment depends on several factors, the most important one being the amount of preparation (training) you have done for the event. There is a direct correlation between the amount of PREPARATION you have and the level of CONFIDENCE available to you. CONFIDENCE is the KEY that opens the DOOR to the world of potentially successful performances! How you manage your confidence determines whether you walk through that door or not. PREPARATION has allowed you to approach this with limited apprehension. From this point on the decisions you make, how you manage the stress of competition determines whether it’ll be positive (exciting) or negative (anxious/nervous). Of course there are other lesser factors which contribute to a positive experience but CONFIDENCE THROUGH PREPARATION is the foundation; KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT are the keys!
THE START
Everyone on the line is going through the same anticipation. Anxiety is limited by confidence through preparation. It is important for the athlete to realize HE/SHE is in control of his or her own destiny. Concentration should be on the task at hand and the internal control through pace judgment and common sense will get you off to a good, solid start.
THE RACE
After settling into the race the athlete should practice EVALUATION of the first several moments of the race. This evaluation process should take place during the actual “HEAT OF THE RACE.” Sample questions could be, “Where am I in the pack?” or “Where are my teammates?” If systems are go YOU have prepared YOURSELF to approach “THE CRITICAL STAGE OF THE COMPETITIVE MOMENT”!
CRITICAL STAGE – “THE RED LINE GOES ON!!!!”
The athlete should not be frightened by the questioning of his/her commitment at some point in the race. I believe every runner goes through this stage and the ENTIRE RACE depends: A) RECOGNITION OF THE MOMENT, B) UNDERSTANDING THE MOMENT, C) SUCCESSFULLY MANAGING THE MOMENT, AND D) PROCEEDING CONFIDENTLY BEYOND THE MOMENT.
It usually happens like this: after a smooth start you settle into your race – at some point, be it a hill, a stiff challenge from an opponent, a fall in the mud, etc., you instinctively place your finger on an imaginary panic button.
You have now reached what I refer to the “RHETORICAL STAGE OF YOUR RACE,” the stage at which you being conversing with yourself as to what you are going to do about this challenge. How you reach to this challenge (there will usually be more than one) will determine whether you have a positive experience or a negative experience. Emulating the moment “in practice” is critical in athletes’ preparation for actual competition. A more illustrative analogy would find two sides to the “CONVERSATION.”
“The DEVIL—MR./MS. NEGATIVE” saying things like, “Back Off! You’re too tired!” or “Slow Down!! You’ve never beaten this girl!” or “You’re not a Hill Runner!!” or “You’re worthless, that’s why your boyfriend left you!” THIS DEVIL WILL SAY ANYTHING TO CONVINCE YOU THAT YOUR BEST JUST ISN’T WORTHWHILE!!!
On the other hand and fighting just as hard (Hopefully Harder!!) is the
REALISTIC, TRUTHFUL, CALM “ANGEL OF GOOD PERFORMANCES—MR.MS. POSITIVE!!” He or she is saying things like, “You’re in GREAT SHAPE and READY TO MAKE A MOVE!!” or “WORKOUTS HAVE BEEN GREAT!! I’VE IMPROVED EVERY WEEK & I AIN’T FINISHED YET!!” or I’M GONNA MAKE MY MOVE AT THE THREE AND TAKE CHARGE OF THIS GROUP!!”
You get the picture. The best way to manage this as well as any “stressful” event is to ARM YOURSELF WITH SO MUCH REAL CONFIDENCE THROUGH CONSISTENT, HARD, COMMON SENSE TRAINING THAT THE DEVIL CAN’T POSSIBLY WIN OUT. Better yet, CONCENTRATE ON THE TAST AT HAND and don’t enter into conversation with yourself—JUST SHUT UP AND RUN!!! At the very least, every time you race put the conversation further and further back in your race.
REMEMBER-THE ATHLETE IS IN CONTROL OF HIS/HER COMPETITIVE DESTINY!!
In conclusion, we should train our athletes about the recognition, understanding, managing and going beyond these “CRITICAL MOMENTS” in the competitive experience. Most of all each athlete should “ARM” themselves with consistent, common sense training, which would prevent them from talking themselves out of a positive, DESERVED, COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE.
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
6th Annual "5 Star High Jump Camp"
The 6th annual "5 Star High Jump Camp" will take place on June 18th & 19th at Saint Mary’s High School in Berkeley. It is designed for intermediate and advanced high jumpers who are looking for improvement. The 2 day camp will cover all aspects of high jumping... the approach, take-off and layout... as well as general and high jump specific plyometrics, drills, and specific weight-training exercises. Video will be taken of very athlete and an analysis of the video will be used to provide the best possible recommendations for each jumper. Athletes will be presented with an instructional manual and DVD, complete with personal written evaluations, analysis and recommendations.
The camp will be limited to 8 - 10 jumpers to insure that every athlete is afforded specialized time with the coaches. Admission to the camp is on a first come - first serve basis. All participants must fill out a questionnaire and sign a liability waiver. The camp is being run by former U.C. Berkeley All-American (and school record-holder - 7'5¾") Jeff Rogers who is currently the coach at Saint Mary's High School . Coach Rogers' former pupil, 2004 California State Champion and 2012 Olympic Trials 5th place finisher Ed Wright will be the other camp clinician. For more information about the camp, go to:
http://sites.google.com/site/
The camp will be limited to 8 - 10 jumpers to insure that every athlete is afforded specialized time with the coaches. Admission to the camp is on a first come - first serve basis. All participants must fill out a questionnaire and sign a liability waiver. The camp is being run by former U.C. Berkeley All-American (and school record-holder - 7'5¾") Jeff Rogers who is currently the coach at Saint Mary's High School . Coach Rogers' former pupil, 2004 California State Champion and 2012 Olympic Trials 5th place finisher Ed Wright will be the other camp clinician. For more information about the camp, go to:
http://sites.google.com/site/
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Northern California Section Meets Information
I know it's hard to believe that we are very near the end of the Track and Field season but here we are. After all the league championships are complete, we will then proceed to all the section meets. Below are the links for all 6 NorCal sections which include all the info for the state qualifying meets.
http://cifns.org/playoff/guidelines/Track.pdf
Sac-Joaquin Section
North Coast Section
Central Coast Section
http://www.cifccs.org/playoffs/track,%20new.html
http://www.cifccs.org/playoffs/track,%20new.html
San Francisco Section
Oakland Section
CIF State Meet
Sunday, May 03, 2015
Northern California Invitational Results
Warren Eaton Relays Results (NEW)
King City Invitational Results
Mt. Pleasant Invitational Results
Sacramento Meet of Champions Results
Road Race
Pacific THERx 5k4Play Results (you may recognize some of the names in the results)
More to come as I find them...
King City Invitational Results
Mt. Pleasant Invitational Results
Sacramento Meet of Champions Results
Road Race
Pacific THERx 5k4Play Results (you may recognize some of the names in the results)
More to come as I find them...
Sonoma County high school track athletes face graduation conflict
As we hit May, championship track season looms as well as proms and graduation conflicts. It happens every year when high school students have to choose between multiple events. It's not always an easy decision as students can be pulled in different directions by friends, family, coaches etc. I think schools can be more proactive about avoiding such conflicts but that is definitely not always the case. Have you had to make such a decision? What led you to your decision? What would you do if you had to choose between competing at the state meet and graduation? Section meet and the prom?
Here is an article from Friday's Santa Rosa Press Democrat that talks about choices that have had to be made by current and former Sonoma County athletes:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/3863757-181/sonoma-county-high-school-track
Here is an article from Friday's Santa Rosa Press Democrat that talks about choices that have had to be made by current and former Sonoma County athletes:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/3863757-181/sonoma-county-high-school-track
Saturday, May 02, 2015
Watch Sacramento Meet of Champions live online
This is a paid feature on milesplit but it is available if you want to watch the meet from the comforts of your own home.
Live Results.
Friday, May 01, 2015
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