Track and Field

Coach Diaz became my official head coach and is now designing my running workouts, strength and conditioning programs, and nutritional protocols. Mark went to work quickly assessing my condition using his own unique approach to performance analysis. I gave him my requirements, and … he developed a customized strength program and supplement protocol to allow me to train. His instruction has been consistent and steady, raising the bar for me to achieve new milestones. 

Sean YoungBalancing a two-sport athletic career requires a lot of careful planning and integration of goals. It demands a delicate balance of time management, focus and organization.

As a member of the Canadian National Track and Field team, I run the 800 meters, as well as run as a guide for blind teammate Jon Dunkerley, in the 100, 200, and 400 meter events with the Paralympic team. Now add to that challenge, having a strength coach 800 miles away…

In 2009, I was introduced to Mark Diaz. Mark was highly recommended by Clark Flynn, who described Mark Diaz as a no-nonsense coach with the skills to develop superior strength programs. With confidence in his skills, Mark became my strength coach, despite the distance and border between us.

Mark went to work quickly assessing my condition using his own unique approach to performance analysis. I gave him my requirements, and from the data, he developed a customized strength program and supplement protocol to allow me to train for both events simultaneously, as well as time my conditioning peaks to match performance goals. When we started, Coach Diaz was new to track and field training, but he adapted my program and helped me build the strength to launch my running power. His coaching experience helped me win 4 National titles and also helped prepare me to compete at two World Championships and Pam Am Games.

In 2011, Coach Diaz became my official head coach and is now designing my running workouts, strength and conditioning programs, and nutritional protocols. I am confident his expertise will be a factor in my 2012 Olympic accomplishments.

Coach Diaz is direct, and takes a strict approach that gets the job done. His instruction has been consistent and steady, raising the bar for me to achieve new milestones. The 2009 season was a challenge for me to communicate with Coach Diaz, because I did not have face time with him. We have since improved that, and introduced tools to allow more communication and pre-set face to face meetings to evaluate and adjust our strategy, taking advantage of technology to share results real-time.

The key to remote coaching is weekly and at times, daily communication. Working with Mark Diaz has and will continue to be a direct contributor to my athletic performance and success.

Update, 2012: This year at the Paralympics Sean Young and John Dunkerley placed eighth in the 400-metre T-11 (visually impaired) dash with a time of 0:55:27. They also ran on Canada’s 4x100m relay team and the team placed sixth in the T 11-13 race.

Sean Young
Canadian National Champion, 800m (able-bodied), 400m, 200m, 4x100m (paralympic guide)