H'm. Broke the high school and college mile record and ran the fastest 1600 DMR split ever recorded. Granted she did not have a good NCAA final and is never going to be a 200m sprinter, but I'd say that is not too bad.
Not bad but she hasn't shown the speed for the next level at 1500. Think Jordan Hassay who was great in HS at 1500m but no so much later. Still had a solid career.
Tend to agree though she lacks the ‘explosive’ kick that say Cranny and Birnbaum have shown in the final 100. She definitely has the ‘squeeze the trigger’ kick that she has shown in the final 800, where she progressively speeds up more incrementally, like Ingebrigtsen. Can she develop it? I don’t know. She’s a superior athlete who should be able to improve with the right training. It won’t come without focus and practice. It clearly isn’t there now to be able to outkick the 800 runners with perhaps the natural ability in this area. Time will tell. On the whole more men have this capability, like Hocker, but some women like Mu and McLoughlin seem to possess this skill as well.
Your 'speed' issue not new to long term Touhy fans. If she was fast, you'd see more 4x4's and 4x8's in high school. Still all distance runners break into kickers like Kincaid, Hocker, Waskom and Green v slow strength runners like Klecker, Levins, Rupp and Young and strength runners can be successful.
Among NCAA ladies Touhy slow v Howell, Whitaker, or Thornton-Bott, but fast v Valby, Venters and Chelangat. As Touhy advances in her 20's, she will never be a sprinter, but she will get stronger and faster like a Monson or Schweizer, and be competitive from 5k on up.
On form everyone is unique like a signature. Touhy's forward lean is aggressive, recognizable and reminiscent of a certain 70's Oregon runner. I don't think I would change anything.
Agree, when that happens we can revisit this thread and tell 'em all that this was the case. However, even then, not likely to meet expectations from high school. Say she breaks 30 someday, makes some worlds or olympic teams, and ends career as top 3 all time US. There will still be naysayers here saying she never was any good and they knew it all along.
I agree on her form issue, but fortunately for her for now, the only collegiate that can hang with her for 5K+ has even less leg speed.
The issue was how to get more competitive in the 15. She can win plenty races without developing the explosive 100 meter finish but to beat the best another gear would give her the confidence to also win those tactical slow races common in some championships. It would also help in some pro 5k’s, which was the point of her 15/5 double ambitions.
Your 'speed' issue not new to long term Touhy fans. If she was fast, you'd see more 4x4's and 4x8's in high school. Still all distance runners break into kickers like Kincaid, Hocker, Waskom and Green v slow strength runners like Klecker, Levins, Rupp and Young and strength runners can be successful.
Among NCAA ladies Touhy slow v Howell, Whitaker, or Thornton-Bott, but fast v Valby, Venters and Chelangat. As Touhy advances in her 20's, she will never be a sprinter, but she will get stronger and faster like a Monson or Schweizer, and be competitive from 5k on up.
On form everyone is unique like a signature. Touhy's forward lean is aggressive, recognizable and reminiscent of a certain 70's Oregon runner. I don't think I would change anything.
There’s nothing to change regarding form, only to add a dimension that could use some improvement. She knows it as well as do her coaches. The forward lean has served her well and is how she preserves energy. I was taught the same form by some very successful coaches. The excessive upright form of a Valby and many HS female runners is inefficient and I won’t get into the biomechanics discussion here.
This analysis of Touhy's form and potential for success is riveting. If only there was some way for her to demonstrate her actual talent so I didn't have to wonder if her explosive speed is enough, or the angle of her arm swing is quite right. The details on this message board raise so many doubts about whether or not she could actually win a race someday!
I would love to see the beautiful, gazelle-like stride of all of you commenters. Give me a minute to look up the videos of you winning the NCAA XC meet...just another minute here...hold on...er, the search results aren't quite there yet...and...nope, can't find it. Hmm.
Attack the messenger. The running form of a coach has no bearing on hiw good of a coach they are. Will Tom Brady be the best football coach in history? Doubtful. Tuohy has no speed. Her 400 is terrible. She is a great NCAA runner who likely will plateau at 14:50 for 5000.
Attack the messenger. The running form of a coach has no bearing on hiw good of a coach they are. Will Tom Brady be the best football coach in history? Doubtful. Tuohy has no speed. Her 400 is terrible. She is a great NCAA runner who likely will plateau at 14:50 for 5000.
You can develop 400 speed as part of a balanced workout routine. I was a 600/800 runner and eventually turned into a 1500/mile runner but would routinely test my 60/100m time with my workout partners. She’ll develop speed as part of her routines that pro’s do routinely. She only tested her 400 speed recently with a mediocre 57 handheld reading. As she progresses she’ll get used to developing and testing her 400 times. I have no doubt that with some small adjustments she’ll develop her speed to 52-55 levels. This may not be world class sprinter levels but it will give her the reserves to eventually break the 4 minute barrier. People here are sounding like they don’t expect speed development to go along with strength improvements. KT is motivated and she has the physical/psychological talent to make it happen. She’ll go through periods of plateau like everyone else but the long-term trend line is promising.
You and I know this is BS. There has not been a 21 yo NCAA talent of her accomplishments since Simpson. Her future is brighter than any other US college distance runner. Perhaps ‘bigboper’ you’re talking about yourself. Let it go!
This post was edited 55 seconds after it was posted.
Attack the messenger. The running form of a coach has no bearing on hiw good of a coach they are. Will Tom Brady be the best football coach in history? Doubtful. Tuohy has no speed. Her 400 is terrible. She is a great NCAA runner who likely will plateau at 14:50 for 5000.
You can develop 400 speed as part of a balanced workout routine. I was a 600/800 runner and eventually turned into a 1500/mile runner but would routinely test my 60/100m time with my workout partners. She’ll develop speed as part of her routines that pro’s do routinely. She only tested her 400 speed recently with a mediocre 57 handheld reading. As she progresses she’ll get used to developing and testing her 400 times. I have no doubt that with some small adjustments she’ll develop her speed to 52-55 levels. This may not be world class sprinter levels but it will give her the reserves to eventually break the 4 minute barrier. People here are sounding like they don’t expect speed development to go along with strength improvements. KT is motivated and she has the physical/psychological talent to make it happen. She’ll go through periods of plateau like everyone else but the long-term trend line is promising.
Improving to 52 will get her WRs and Gold Medals. Your small adjustments are worth $Millions to any elite runner.