Kinesiology 101: The Science of Running

This Course is part of The Scholar Program . You are welcome to purchase this course individually, but if you purchase The Scholar Program membership for $29/month you will gain access to every program in the HPW Academy of Scholarship. You can find more details on The Scholar Program here.

What can you expect from Kinesiology 101?

This course is designed to educated the student on the science of running. We'll dive into the physiology, biomechanics, neuromuscular system, endocrine system, and more. This will be different from any university course you may have taken on exercise science. We'll break down what it all means and translate it back to running. Don't get me wrong, we'll dive deep into the weeds, but we'll do it in a way that puts the focus on usability and practicality. This is the exercise science course you wish you could have taken in college. Topics covered include:

  • The problems with applying science to coaching. How to do it successfully.
  • Bridging the gap between science and coaching.
  • Setting the stage: understanding fatigue and performance.
  • The role of the brain in running and performance
  • The physiology of running: oxygen, lactate, and more
  • Stress and Adaptation: The science behind how we adapt to training
  • Th Biomechanics of distance running
  • What changes when we train?
  • Utilizing and applying science in training. Practical takeaways
  • And much more!

How will this course be delivered?

Through a combination of video lectures, readings, powerpoint presentations, podcast style audio recordings, and more. We attack teaching from multiple directions in order to help the student absorb the material best.

What we guarantee:

We will continue to develop and curate content that we think is valuable for the coaching community. We promise to continually update this content so that it is the best coaching resource on the planet. You'll be the first to hear about our lessons in coaching high school, college, and elite runners.


Your Instructor


Steve Magness & Jonathan Marcus
Steve Magness & Jonathan Marcus

STEVE MAGNESS is the bestselling author of Peak Performance: Take Advantage of the New Science of Success and The Science of Running. He is a coach to some of the top distance runners in the world, having coached numerous athletes to top 15 at the World Championships and Olympic Games. As well as having coached six Top 10 performances at a major Marathon (Boston, NYC, Chicago). He's coached athletes such as Natosha Rogers, Neely Spence-Gracey, Sara Hall, Mark English, Jackie Areson, Brian Barraza, Sarah Crouch, and many more. He currently coaches at the University of Houston. Known widely for his integration of science and practice, Magness has been on the forefront of innovation in sport. He serves as an adjunct professor of Strength and Conditioning at St. Mary's University.


JONATHAN MARCUS is the director and co-founder of High Performance West. He's developed athletes to national championships, Olympic Trials Qualifying standards, and national records. Some of the athletes he has coached include: Tara Welling, Nicole Blood, Eleanor Fulton, Mckayla Fricker, Daniel Herrera, and more. Previously Jon was the Head Cross Country Coach at Clackamas Community College and an assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach at Portland State, University of Portland, and Warner Pacific College. He graduated with a B.A. from Columbia University in the City of New York in 2006.


Course Curriculum


  Understanding the Science
Available in days
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  Take Aways
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

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