HMMR Podcast

Diamond League discus champion Matthew Denny is one of the best all-around throwers in the world, having won Commonwealth medals in both the discus and the hammer throw. He's also on of the best big time performers, having thrown personal bests at the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Diamond League finals in recent years. He credits both his all-around success and peaking ability to his ability to feel the throw, a skill he developed over countless reps of trial and error. On this week's episode he talks about how to develop feeling, what he feels in his throw, his current technical focus, and some surprising parallels between the discus and the hammer.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/10/hmmr-podcast-episode-309-feeling-the-throw-with-matthew-denny/

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More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• You can follow Denny on Instagram @MattyDenny.
• Denny has been working with coach Dale Stevenson this season. Stevenson was previously a guest on Episode 66 and Episode 121. We also have had former Australia discus record holder Benn Harradine as a guest on Episode 26.
• More content about the discus: check out our interviews with coach Vésteinn Hafsteinsson and former Olympic champion Mac Wilkins.

When Ethan Katzberg won the world championship title in the hammer throw last month, he surprised a lot of people. But for his coach Dylan Armstrong, it was what they had been training four years for. On this week's podcast Armstrong breaks down how they used those years to develop Katzberg from a multi-sport high school athlete into the youngest world champion in the event's history.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/09/hmmr-podcast-episode-308-developing-the-champ-with-dylan-armstrong/

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More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• You can follow Dylan's Kamloops throws group on Instagram at @KamloopsThrows.
• We also put up some recent analysis of the first half and second half of the throwing events at this year's world championships.
• Our archive has a comprehensive introduction to Bondarchuk's training methods: we have a simple introduction, as well video lesson detailing his approach, as well as a sample training program. We also interviewed him in 2015.
• Former world record holder Jüri Tamm also shed some insights on talent, development, and Soviet training in two multi-part interviews that we did with him over the years. You can read the first interview and second interview.
• Some of our coverage of the recent World Championships include a debrief on Episode 307 with René Sack, analysis of the first half and second half of the throwing events, regional/national trends, and our preview to kick things off on Episode 305 with Don Babbitt.

The world championships finished last weekend and there was plenty to talk about in the throwing events: surprise champions, new records, and a changing of the guard in some events. On this week's podcast German national coach René Sack joins us to break down the action, discuss our favorite moments, and identify the trends we saw emerge in Budapest.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/09/hmmr-podcast-episode-307-world-champs-review-with-rene-sack/

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More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• Some recent throws previews and reviews of major championships: Episode 305 previewing the 2023 World Championships with Don Babbitt. The 2022 world championship previews with Shaun Pickering on Episode 277. Tokyo Olympics review with him on Episode 255, and Episode 300 remembering Pickering's legacy.
• We also put up some recent analysis of the first half and second half of the throwing events at this year's world championships.
• For a look at country trends in throwing, we have posted about that over the years with some analysis post Tokyo Olympics, in 2017, 2016, and 2015.
• To learn more from Sack, listen to our interviews with him on Episode 79, Episode 136, and Episode 211. Vern and I also discussed his recent presentations on GAINcast 94. You can also find him on Twitter (@ReneSack) and Instagram (@renesack76). Sack has contributed articles to HMMR Media which you can find them here. He also presented Video Lesson 16, where he shares his framework for developing specific strength in the throwing events.

The worlds of throwing and endurance have a lot of differences, as well as many surprising similarities. Carrie Lane spent coaches world-class throwers before turning her attention to building stronger and faster endurance athletes. On this week's podcast she joins us to discuss the different planning challenges presented by both populations, the balance of sprint training for non-sprinters, the influence of Bondarchuk on her programming, and the value of climbing.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/08/hmmr-podcast-episode-306-under-the-armour-with-carrie-lane/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• You can follow her on Instagram (@CoachCarrieLane) and Twitter (@CoachCarrieLane). Learn more about her on her website VerticalPush.com as well.
• Lane contributed Video Lesson 8: Lifting for runners to the HMMR Classroom, as well as a three part article series on the topic: Why Runners Need to Lift, Strength Methods for Runners, and Creating a Strength Plan for Runners. She has also contributed additional content to HMMR Media.
• Lane was also a guest on Episode 51, and also participated in roundtables on coaches education on Episode 142, NCAA coaching in the pandemic on Episode 233, and general topics on Episode 252. She also did a great interview with the Track and Field Performance Podcast this summer as well.
• You can find our resources for endurance athletes here. If you are interested in learning more about Bondarchuk's training methods, watch our Video Lesson 1 on the topic in the HMMR Classroom.
• We've also written about climbing before, including lessons from the documentary Dawn Wall and the Oscar wining Free Solo.

It's the summer time, which means championship season for track and field, and offseason training for many other sports. On this week's podcast we recap the latest throwing results from the US championships, discuss summer training, and also cover common mistakes when implementing the Bondarchuk method.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/08/hmmr-podcast-episode-305-world-champs-preview-with-don-babbitt/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• You can learn more about Babbitt’s background from the University of Georgia webpage.
• Babbitt was also a guest on Episode 256 on throwing trends, Episode 170 on throwing biomechanics, and on Episode 116. And he sat down for a lengthy interview on individualization and other training topics back in 2012.
• HMMR Plus Members can watch Babbitt break down rotational shot put styles, technical development, and training methods in this 3.5 hour video lesson.
• Additional episodes referenced in this episode: Episode 303 with Paddy McGrath, and our recent 2022 world championship previews with Shaun Pickering on Episode 277, Tokyo Olympics review with him on Episode 255, and Episode 300 remembering Pickering's legacy.

It's the summer time, which means championship season for track and field, and offseason training for many other sports. On this week's podcast we recap the latest throwing results from the US championships, discuss summer training, and also cover common mistakes when implementing the Bondarchuk method.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/07/hmmr-podcast-episode-304-summer-time/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• his episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• A few past episodes were referenced on this podcast, including: Episode 148 with Dan Lange, Episode 303 with Paddy McGrath. We also referenced Nick's recent interview on the Eric Performance Podcast.
• We discussed some common issues in implementing the Bondarchuk method. You can learn more about the Bondarchuk method in our webinar on the topic and in reading through our resources on periodization and planning.

Some coaches make training seem complex. Some make it seem oh so simple. And when you play the long game it is. Coach Paddy McGrath has been coaching Rudy Winkler for nearly 15 years. Slow and steady he's developed into the American record holder and a favorite for the podium at this summer's World Championships. On this week's episode he joins us to talk about his approach to training, teaching, and throwing.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/07/hmmr-podcast-episode-303-playing-the-long-game-with-paddy-mcgrath/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes:

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• You can follow McGrath on Instagram at (@paddyhammer77.49m).
• For more resources on the hammer throw you can find on our throwing page. Some top podcasts on the hammer throw include Episode 266 with Lance Deal and Episode 192 with Kevin McMahon.
• Here's a little article I wrote back in 2013 to quiet critics who were second guessing Winkler's college choice of an academic powerhouse over a throwing powerhouse.

How do you integrate new and beginning athletes into your program? Nick recently presented on this topic at the annual GAIN conference. On this week episode we share some excerpts from his presentation, as well as other highlights from the conference.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/06/hmmr-podcast-episode-302-onboarding-athletes/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• This episode was recorded at GAIN. You can learn more about GAIN here, and several past GAIN presentations are available to HMMR Plus Members in the HMMR Classroom.
• For more on Nick’s modular training templates, watch his latest video in the HMMR Classroom: Video Lesson 19 on the training session. You can also learn more about modular training in this article and how it can be individualized.
• Several other presenters were mentioned on this episode. You can learn more from them on past episodes of the HMMR Podcast and GAINcast, including: Paul Kilgannon on GAINcast 253, Johnny Parkes on Episode 227, Travis Knight on Episode 223. Jimmy Radcliffe has also contributed to the site on GAIN Video 12 in the HMMR Classroom.

On this week’s episode we cover a hodgepodge of topics including: holding peak condition, what we miss out on when we focus on video review, rethinking benchwarmers, and the hardest level to coach at.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/06/hmmr-podcast-episode-301-holding-the-peak/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• We've covered a similar hodgepodge of topics this year on episodes 298, 296 and 292.
• For more on Conroy programming, listen to our interview with him on Episode 243. We also discussed peaking back on Episode 4.

The athletics community suffered a enormous loss on May 11 when Shaun Pickering unexpectedly passed away. He was an Olympic athlete, coach, and fan. But more than anything he was the man behind the scenes that helped push the sport forward. To help remember him, we're joined this week by some of his best friends including Vesteinn Hafsteinsson, Charles van Commenee, Robert Weir, Frank Dick, and Don Babbitt.

For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/05/hmmr-podcast-episode-300-remembering-shaun-pickering/

»  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources.

More notes

• This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives.
• Athletics Weekly put together a detailed obituary of Pickering following his death. 
• You can see some of Pickering's life on his social media on Instagram (@shaunpickering) or Twitter (@ShaunDPickering).
• Pickering was a frequent contributor to our episodes looking at major championships. Listen to Episode 277 where we previewed the 2022 World Championships together and Episode 255 where we debriefed the Tokyo Olympics.
• Guests Vesteinn Hafsteinsson and Don Babbitt have also been featured on the site previous. We talked in detail about training with Hafsteinsson back in 2014. And Babbitt has been on Episode 256 on throwing trends, Episode 170 on throwing mechanics, as well as a written training talk interview.