Track & Field

How do you motivate your athletes when they don't think things are going well in training leading up to races, but really, they are?

Unleashing Hidden Potential: A Coach's Sneaky Strategy to Motivate Runners

To motivate distance runners in the latter half of the season when they were in really good shape, I sometimes would interrupt a workout when they were all warmed up and feeling good and tell the slowest runner in that group to run an all out 800 until the other guys, they had to stay with him but they couldn't pass him. Invariably, the slowest runner would run a lifetime best in the 800. And many times, several others in the group would also get lifetime bests. Now they had an appreciation for what kind of shape they were in. They were excited. They were confident. And they we're just looking forward to the next race.

To motivate distance runners in the latter half of the season, I would have the slowest runner in the group run an all-out 800 meter race and the other runners had to stay with him but not pass him. This often resulted in lifetime bests for several of the runners and motivated them to look forward to the next race.

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To motivate athletes who may not realize how well they are performing in training leading up to races, I would employ a specific strategy with distance runners. During a workout when they are warmed up and feeling good, I would interrupt and instruct the slowest runner in the group to run an all-out 800 meters while the others had to stay with him but not pass him. Surprisingly, the slowest runner would often achieve a lifetime best in the 800, and sometimes, other runners in the group would also achieve personal bests. This exercise helped them realize the level of fitness they had attained, boosting their excitement and confidence for the upcoming races. They would eagerly anticipate the next competition with a newfound appreciation for their abilities.

Hi Bob! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Bob Larson: Legendary Coach Behind American Distance Running's Revival

Hi, I'm Bob Larson. I've coached track and field and cross country from high school to the professional level. I retired from UCLA in 2000 and along with Jovi hill, we established the high-altitude training group at Mammoth Lakes, California, led by Meb Keflezighi and Dina cast. Our goal was to help return American distance running to an internationally competitively, the documentary City. Slickers can't stay. With me and the book Running to the edge, provide additional information about my background. I'll be glad to answer questions on track and field and distance running.

Hi, I'm Bob Larson and I used to coach track and field and cross country from high school to the professional level. I recently retired from UCLA and established a high-altitude training group in Mammoth Lakes, California. My background is detailed in the documentary City Slickers and the book Running to the Edge. I'm available to answer questions about track and field and distance running.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/no0qza8us5d7a8r4b8ce.vtt

Hi, I'm Bob Larson, a former track and field and cross country coach with experience at various levels, ranging from high school to the professional level. I retired from UCLA in 2000 and, together with Jovi Hill, established the high-altitude training group in Mammoth Lakes, California. This group was led by renowned athletes such as Meb Keflezighi and Dina Cast. Our aim was to elevate American distance running to a competitive international level.

If you're interested in learning more about my background, the documentary City Slickers Can't Stay and my book Running to the Edge provide additional information. I'm here to help and answer any questions you may have about track and field and distance running.

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Coach Advice

Bob Larsen is a Hall of Fame Track and field coach known for coaching distance runners. He coached Mebrahtom Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, who went on to win the 2009 New York Marathon and 2014 Boston Marathon. Prior to that, Larsen coached the UCLA cross country and track teams (1979-1999).