Deal… or No Deal
Game show fans are familiar with the hit show hosted by Howie Mandell in which contestants open some of the 24 brief cases held by attractive models in hopes that the high dollar amounts are not revealed. After each round a dollar amount is offered to the contestant to stop playing based on the amounts in the remaining cases. At this point Howie says, “Deal or no deal?” This is a question that has appeared over the years in many forms. A parent may tell a child they can have an ice cream cone if they wash the dog. Some teachers exempt student from final exams if they have an “A” grade average. And deals have been made over the years by coaches with their runners during track sessions.
The first time I remember watching a coach use this technique was in the late 1970s. Coach Nick Gailey of Titusville Astronaut High School in Titusville, Florida was timing Doug Overfelt in a session of repeat 440s. Doug, a 4:10 miler and two-time Florida State 3A champion, was scheduled to do eight 440s in around 62 – 63 seconds. It was a hot May afternoon and difficult to hit those times in a solo session. Doug was dragging a bit and after the sixth 440, Coach Gailey said, “You can do two more at this pace or hit one under 60 seconds and you’re done.” Doug took the second option and blasted a 440 in 57 seconds. This was a great lesson to all three of us that a runner often has another gear beyond what can be imagined. A great coach helps a runner to find these hidden reserves.
Recently I had a similar experience. I was timing an athlete in a series of six repeat 800 meters with a goal pace of 2:50 and a three minute rest in between. It was a solo session in 90 degree heat. The first four were right on pace, but she was tired and in need of some spark. I reached back in time to Coach Gailey’s method and said, “Do you want to play ‘Deal or no deal’?” “What’s the deal,” she responded. “You can run two more 800s in 2:50 or one in 2:40.” Just like Doug did so many years ago, she took the latter option. And just like Doug did she blasted that 800 meters in 2:35.
She found another gear that she didn’t know she had. This will help sometime in a race situation when she is really tired and needs to pull out all of the stops to beat a competitor or race a personal best time. So, if you are coaching someone or in the midst of your own track session, remember it is sometimes wise to play “Deal or no deal.”
Gary Cohen has 35 years of competitive running and racing experience highlighted by best times of: 5k – 14;44; 10K – 30:28 and marathon – 2;22:34. He is a regular writer for Florida Running & Triathlon magazine. At
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