In this episode of the MindBodyMarathon show, host Dr. Leo Kormanik and Dr. Matt Pisanelli interviews Laura Rybka, a NCAA Division 1 coach at Kent State University, who shares her journey in running and coaching. Laura reflects on her challenging high school years, where she struggled with severe gastrointestinal issues that hindered her ability to run. After numerous visits to GI doctors, she was diagnosed with a rare condition, which led to her being on a liquid diet for a significant period.

Despite her struggles, Laura found her way back to running in college after getting her health under control, but she faced multiple stress fractures due to her compromised bone health from malnutrition. This experience taught her patience and deepened her understanding of the sport, ultimately leading her to pursue a coaching career.

Now at Kent State, Laura emphasizes the importance of sharing her love for running with her athletes, fostering a sense of community, and valuing the process over just performance. Her personal journey has instilled in her a sense of gratitude for every opportunity to run, recognizing that it can be taken away at any time. The conversation highlights how her past experiences shape her coaching philosophy and her approach to nurturing future runners.

In this discussion, Laura Rybka emphasizes the importance of gratitude and self-acknowledgment in sports, suggesting that many athletes fail to appreciate their accomplishments. She recalls advice from her coach about maintaining a balanced mindset, avoiding an all-consuming obsession with performance, and fostering a love for the process instead of just the results. This philosophy is crucial, especially for post-collegiate athletes who may struggle with identity and mental health after their competitive careers end.

Laura highlights the unique nature of running as a sport that remains accessible even after college, allowing individuals to continue participating in various forms. She contrasts this with sports like football, where many athletes face a sudden end to their competitive experience, leading to mental health challenges.

As a Division 1 coach, Laura is focused on developing athletes over time rather than pushing them to perform immediately. She discusses the recent roster size changes in cross country and track programs, which may limit the number of athletes but allows for more focused development. Laura believes in nurturing potential and giving athletes time to grow, rather than cutting them based on immediate results.

To improve coordination and strength, the coach employs various core routines and activation exercises, incorporating plyometrics and mobility drills into the training regimen. He draws parallels between his training methods and practices observed in successful East African runners, who prioritize coordination and movement efficiency.

The conversation also touches on the concept of double threshold training, which aims to increase volume without exhausting athletes. The coach uses time trials to establish each athlete's threshold pace, ensuring that workouts are effective and tailored to the individual’s needs. Overall, his approach emphasizes the importance of form, quality training, and long-term athlete development.

In this discussion, a coach outlines his approach to training athletes, particularly focusing on time trials and threshold training. He explains that during a ten-mile time trial, he encourages athletes to start at a specified pace and to push harder in the final miles, aiming for a "pure effort." The threshold pace is typically set ten to fifteen seconds faster than the time trial pace, with a focus on gradually increasing intensity as athletes become fitter.

He also discusses the importance of holistic coaching, which includes conversations about nutrition and lifestyle factors that affect performance. He highlights the need for athletes to understand the importance of fueling their bodies properly, particularly after workouts, to optimize recovery and performance.

Additionally, she reflects on the differences between track and cross-country training, noting that while track workouts can be more intense and speed-focused, the overall training should be viewed as one continuous cycle. She aims to build confidence in athletes through rigorous training, ultimately preparing them for peak performance when it matters most.

The coach expresses concern about the increasing rate of injuries among athletes, which she attributes to a lack of self-awareness and the pressure of competing with others, particularly influenced by social media and data tracking.

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Be sure to also check out Dr. Leo's Running Rehab YouTube page at www.YouTube.com/@RunningRehab.