In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les and Danny dive deep into the lessons from the NFL Combine, athlete rehab, and the balance between art and science in coaching. They share behind-the-scenes insights on calf strain rehab, the role of connective tissue, the challenges of interdisciplinary work, and how to create individualized plans inside a team environment. 

Episode Timestamps

 * 0:00 – 4:30 | Crash course beginnings, chaos, and lessons learned
 * 4:30 – 11:00 | Solving problems in human performance & staying curious
 * 15:30 – 17:15 | Quadrants as a blueprint for sprint mechanics
 * 26:30 – 33:00 | Inside calf strain rehab: long-duration isometrics, recovery, and daily oversight
 * 35:00 – 37:15 | Connective tissue vs. muscle dominance — why strains happen
 * 41:00 – 43:30 | Why rest and separation of health/performance fails athletes
 * 53:30 – 55:30 | The paradox of concentric vs. eccentric force
 * 58:30 – 1:04:00 | Foot mechanics, posterior tibialis, and performance impact
 * 1:10:30 – 1:13:30 | Leadership lessons: range of motion, reliability, and profiling
 * 1:16:40 – 1:19:45 | Individualization within team programming
 * 1:26:15 – 1:29:45 | NFL complexity and building continuity of care
 * 1:33:00 – End | The future of performance, human connection, and relationships

Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here [https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast] to schedule a short call with our team.

Danny Foley: Solving Problems In Human Performance

In this solo episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les Spellman breaks down one of the most misunderstood aspects of sprinting: the stretch shortening cycle (SSC) and the critical role of pre-tension. Drawing from research, coaching experience, and case studies, Les explains why faster sprinters actually produce higher braking forces, how tendons act as both shocks and springs, and why athlete development often overlooks eccentric qualities. 

Episode Timestamps

 * 00:00 – Intro & why this topic matters
 * 01:15 – Braking forces & the stretch shortening cycle explained
 * 05:00 – Early coaching mistakes & concentric-only bias
 * 08:00 – Why concentric strength doesn’t separate elite sprinters
 * 10:15 – Hypothesis: performance = pretension + braking + transition + propulsion
 * 11:00 – Tendons as shock absorbers & springs
 * 13:30 – Force plates as a window into SSC
 * 17:00 – Case study: Jacob Robinson’s eccentric RFD breakthrough
 * 21:00 – Case study: River Cracraft tendon remodeling
 * 23:30 – Case study: Brandon Jetter improving pretension & ground contact
 * 28:45 – Pretension mechanics & dribble drills
 * 31:00 – Practical takeaways from force plate metrics
 * 35:15 – Training interventions: yielding/overcoming isometrics, reflexive eccentrics, plyos
 * 38:45 – Programming ideas (slow, high, and fast force days)
 * 42:00 – Redefining “stiffness” & SSC strategy
 * 43:20 – Wrap-up, resources, and closing thoughts

Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here [https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast] to schedule a quick call with our team. 

Stretch Shortening Cycle & The Role Of Pre-Tension

In this episode, Les and Danny sit down with Ken Clark. Ken is a leading expert in speed and sprint biomechanics, serving as a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physiology and Biomechanics from Southern Methodist University and is recognized for his scientific research on the mechanical factors that influence athletic performance and injury mechanisms, with a special focus on speed development and sprint technique.

Episode Timestamps

 * 00:00 – Intro | Hero, hardship, highlight — Dr. Clark’s background
 * 01:30 – Sprint Mechanics | Vertical vs. horizontal forces
 * 04:00 – Acceleration & Top Speed | How forces change over distance
 * 09:00 – Research Insights | What separates elite sprinters
 * 13:25 – Two-Mass Model | How sprinters strike the ground
 * 18:00 – Foot vs. Ground Speed | Surprising biomechanics
 * 23:07 – Braking Forces | Why faster sprinters brake harder
 * 29:30 – Tendon & Stiffness | Pre-activation and connective tissue
 * 44:30 – Injury vs. Performance | Foot mechanics and stiffness balance
 * 52:30 – Training Takeaways | Plyos, strength, and sprint programming
 * 01:01:55 – Closing Thoughts

Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here [https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast] to schedule a quick call with our team. 

Ken Clark: What Makes An Athlete Fast?

Universal Speed Rating is excited to announce the launch of The Speed Lab Podcast with hosts Les Spellman, Danny Foley, and Cici Murray. 

In this episode, Les and Danny sit down with Stuart McMillan, Co-Founder and CEO of ALTIS, a globally recognized leading authority in sports education, specializing in coaching excellence for speed, power, and strength training, across Track and Field, and Team Sports. 

00:00:00 Introduction to Guests and Themes 

00:01:08 Training Seasons and Athlete Management 

00:02:00 Evolving Beliefs in Coaching 

00:05:56 Complexity in Coaching Systems 

00:13:12 Leadership and Complexity in Systems 

00:21:00 Consulting Challenges in Sports 

00:34:53 Career Evolutions and Personal Insights 

00:51:18 Innovative Training Approaches 

01:07:32 Understanding Complexity in Coaching 

01:26:03 Book Discussion and Personal Reflections 

01:28:05 Upcoming Event Highlights 

01:37:21 Conclusion and Future Anticipations

Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here [https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast] to schedule a quick call with our team. 

Stuart McMillan: Strength Training, Braking Forces, Sprinting

Introducing The Speed Lab Podcast by Universal Speed Rating. Hosted by Les Spellman, Danny Foley, and Cici Murray, The Speed Lab Podcast dives into all things performance to help you train smarter and play faster. 

Les Spellman

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