May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At Runnerd Library we have selected guests for our May podcast episodes with whom we will discuss mental wellbeing of athletes via contemporary literature. First up, in this episode, I speak with author Todd Corbin, CPC. Todd is a mindfulness and mental performance coach, author, speaker, avid runner, and learning specialist. He spent more than two decades in higher education publishing and was a Community College instructor for twelve years, teaching courses in stress management, communication skills, peak performance, mindfulness, and meditation. Todd is co-author of the best-selling, Mindfulness For Student Athletes: A Workbook to Help Teens Reduce Stress and Enhance Performance. During our conversation, you will be given tips for applying mindfulness techniques within your own life to offset stress and anxiety. A must listen episode for athletes, parents, and coaches who are looking for improved performance in the moment!

Many thought it unattainable. A feat beyond human ability. Sir Roger Bannister proved that it could be done. This episode pays homage to Sir Roger Bannister on the 69th anniversary of his remarkable achievement, running 3:59.4 for one mile at Iffley Road Track in Oxford, UK on May 6, 1954.

Guest Number 1: Neal Bascomb, New York Times Bestselling Author, author of The Perfect Mile

In his book, The Perfect Mile, Neal recounts the quest for the sub-four-minute mile being undertaken by Bannister, Australian athlete John Landy, and American track star Wes Santee. Neal is a master of historical narratives. The level of detail Neal uses as he describes the three-way competition between Bannister, Landy, and Santee makes you feel as though you are witnessing the events firsthand. I recommend reading Chapter 14 to travel along with Sir Roger as the day unfolded on May 6, 1954. From a gray and windy start to the day to near-perfect execution on the track, you will feel the anticipation as Bannister and his teammates go all in.

Guest Number 2: Todd Corbin, Mindfulness Coach and author of mindfulness for student athletes

(There are several excellent videos on youtube containing the entire race. Look for a version that includes Bannister's commentary.)

Guest Number 3: Alan Webb, American Record holder for the mile (3:46.91)

In 2007 Alan Webb set the American Record for the mile with a mark of 3:46.91. These days you will find him coaching the Gyrenes of Ave Maria University in Florida. He graciously joined me to discuss the importance of Bannister breaking the 4:00 minute barrier for future runners, including Alan himself. We talk about training methods, equipment, the rite of passage for milers, and what the future might hold for the American Record.

Listen all the way through to the end of the episode to hear a special challenge issued by Runnerd Library. You can also find more details about the challenge at www.runnerdlibrary.com.

Thanks for listening.

In this episode we launch the Runnerd Library Podcast.  Before we bring in authors to discuss their books, which will be the focus of the podcast in the future, I wanted to share my runnerd moment.  I also share a list of books that were among the first to be added to my runnerd library.  We'll talk about future guests of the podcast and where you can find a list of who will be appearing.  We want to hear from you as well.  Your mission is to share with us how you became a runnerd.  We also want to field your questions for the authors appearing on the podcast.  You can find the list of guests and release dates on https://www.runnerdlibrary.com/podcastepisodes.