Parker Huhn

Running Coach: Driftless Distance Project. Alum: UW-La Crosse, Pleasant Valley HS

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@SageCanaday @BenedictScott_ And even caffeine has a legal limit in the NCAA - not as familiar with WADA (although that is for athlete safety I assume?)

[North Central Men’s Track and Cross Country @NCCMensXCTF]

COACHES SPOTLIGHT: Parker Huhn

Coach Huhn joins the staff after graduating with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a Competitive Coaching emphasis and a minor in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

#WeAreNC

[North Central Men’s Track and Cross Country @NCCMensXCTF]

🤩 The new kids on campus 🏫

We’d like to welcome our new Graduate Assistants to the staff Parker Huhn and Noah Gabrys!

Coach Huhn will be assisting the cross country and distance squads, and Coach Gabrys will be working with sprints.

#WeAreNC

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@louisanicola_ + being open to others opinions even if you feel like you do understand/are experienced! Listening is a skill

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@DougPetrick1 @CoachDistance Just curious - were athletes told to run on their own on Saturday? Or was is generally agreed no running?

Some driven, immature athletes I’ve known could end up doing more than if there was organized practice!

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

Just 1 week after such an impressive indoor nationals double. Definitely not optimal timing from a performance perspective, but he still threw down another all-timer. Gamers gonna game

[NAU Track & Field/XC @NAUTrackFieldXC]

𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚👑

Nico breaks the collegiate 10K record in his 10K debut and hits the Olympic standard

#RaiseTheFlag | #BigSkyTF

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@TheRealMerb Weini was so impressive. “I guess I’ll have to do it myself” when the pack let the standard lights go. Did SO much work in the middle herself. And still fought like hell when others caught back up. She has a bright future!!

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@CoachChauvin @MikeCunningham I would approach with the goal of understanding the situation. Can they articulate clearly? Was it under their control? Does it seem like they are being truthful? Do they come from a place of defensiveness or explanation?

Can definitely learn about the recruit as a person!

[lululemon @lululemon]

No caption needed.

@runcamille #lululemonFURTHER

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@Red_Orm @Predamame (we run outside in Wisconsin year-round regardless)

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@coachjayjohnson The best athletes communicate with their coaches if the plan isn’t followed for a reasonable purpose (life, injury, rest/recovery, etc.)

The best coaches understand they are in a partnership with their athletes, not a dictatorship!

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@Lilot1TrackMind What could unify a season then? Most all other leagues/sports have culminating championships. Track is hard to follow (and likely misses out on fans) due to complete lack of a cohesive competitive narrative

Obviously a multifaceted issue, & worlds ending season doesn’t solve all

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@stevemagness And for lack of a better term it’s pseudo-science. Maybe not intentional, but it’s not possibly to isolate and train only a specific system/training response anyway! It’s a spectrum and everything is interconnected.

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@Alan_Couzens Pro tip: you can always try increasing cycle length to accommodate for regular diverse stimuli (with adequate rest)!

My athlete does 5 key sessions in each 14 day cycle:
- 2 traditional tempo base
- 1 LR with Marathon work
- 1 Vo2/specific pace work
- 1 time on feet LR

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@jacksonfyfe Most physical activity should be light intensity! If every time you work out it is really difficult, you likely won’t stay committed or enjoy it very long anyways.

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@15thenning @stevemagness I can imagine there are many other differentiating factors other than hard work or genetics. Adequate rest? Practicing efficiently? Being part of a team? Having inspiring leaders/coaches?

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@stevemagness This is awesome. A caveat: inexperienced or overconfident athletes could have skewed perceptions of their own effort. Speed limits can be useful - an 18:00 5k runner shouldn’t be running anywhere near 6:00 for “easy” days!

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@stevemagness I had a parent tell me their child had never enjoyed any sports practice before, but always was excited for track. They were one of my most enthusiastic kids!

Lots of time playing games. Some time running + track oriented. All time with freedom to be energetic and themselves.

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@stevemagness I coached youth track for a couple seasons. Biggest lesson: provide a positive introductory movement experience.

If they quit at age 9, who cares what skills/speed they acquired. Teach the fundamentals & give them a reason to keep showing up.

They are kids. It should be fun.

[Parker Huhn @huhndistance]

@altini_marco Love this perspective. Another fun wrinkle is that we can have different ceilings in different disciplines! A HS runner who can’t seem to break 2:00 in high school could be a really good marathoner down the road. So yes, work hard at a goal, but also keep exploring!