She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
The comparison between Gidey and Valby are valid only to the point that they are not last lap kickers. By any other measure Gidey is streets ahead of Valby. I’ve noticed Valby runs with a very stiff neck and shoulders. She looks as if she is wearing an invisible neck brace. Her arm carriage is very stiff and deliberate, there seems to be a disconnect between her torso and legs. As for the legs, Gidey demonstrates a very flexible Psoas muscle and this is obvious in her long rangy and bouncy stride. Valby has no bounce to her turnover whatsoever.
Gidey is beauty in motion but fails to shorten her stride and increase her turnover when the sprint for home begins. This was something Tirunesh Dibaba was excellent at doing. Valbys running technique is streets behind.
Details aside, my impression of Gidey is that she is an almost robotic athlete who scarcely ever changes pace and has virtually no kick. In that Valby reminds me of her but because Gidey is at a far higher level I used the analogy of "mini me".
Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level
Metronome:
3:00.23
2:58.66
2:58.68
2:58.58
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
Why do people keep saying this? Pierre isn’t doubling at the Olympics. Valby is in. And all of her worshippers are going to be so annoying.
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
Wow, and those extra 1.5 seconds on the first K are probably from the initial 100m jog she had to work her way around. I feel crazy saying this given her training, but I wonder if the marathon is where she belongs. Could she adapt her training to it?
I have been thinking the same thing.
She is a pure metronome—inflexible and mechanical. Her governed speed is enough to drop some women over even 5k, while showing absolutely no flashes of brilliance, no successive kicks to “take it out of them”.
Just a steady grind, and imo the only place that might work (not guaranteed) is in the marathon. 10,000m would be next-best, but not a good bet imo.
But I am amazed that her body can handle that hitchy, jerky form. idk what her marathon training mileage would look like, but I could see injury in such a future—but I totally think that’s where she should be.
Wow, and those extra 1.5 seconds on the first K are probably from the initial 100m jog she had to work her way around. I feel crazy saying this given her training, but I wonder if the marathon is where she belongs. Could she adapt her training to it?
I have been thinking the same thing.
She is a pure metronome—inflexible and mechanical. Her governed speed is enough to drop some women over even 5k, while showing absolutely no flashes of brilliance, no successive kicks to “take it out of them”.
Just a steady grind, and imo the only place that might work (not guaranteed) is in the marathon. 10,000m would be next-best, but not a good bet imo.
But I am amazed that her body can handle that hitchy, jerky form. idk what her marathon training mileage would look like, but I could see injury in such a future—but I totally think that’s where she should be.
Wow, and those extra 1.5 seconds on the first K are probably from the initial 100m jog she had to work her way around. I feel crazy saying this given her training, but I wonder if the marathon is where she belongs. Could she adapt her training to it?
I have been thinking the same thing.
She is a pure metronome—inflexible and mechanical. Her governed speed is enough to drop some women over even 5k, while showing absolutely no flashes of brilliance, no successive kicks to “take it out of them”.
Just a steady grind, and imo the only place that might work (not guaranteed) is in the marathon. 10,000m would be next-best, but not a good bet imo.
But I am amazed that her body can handle that hitchy, jerky form. idk what her marathon training mileage would look like, but I could see injury in such a future—but I totally think that’s where she should be.
Radcliffe 2.0
well to be fair there have been races where after starting at a slower pace she has accelerated to a bit faster than 70-71 s 400. For example the indoor 5000 this year where she ran the last 1000 in 2:52 (basically 34.x per lap) to finish in 14:52. Also the 3000 the next day where she ran the last 1000 in 2:48 (34.4 then basically 33.x per lap for last 800) to finish in 8:41. But I have never seen a huge burst to closer to 31, not that she has needed it.
Gidey can close a 10k in sub 4:00 for the last 1500… not even in the same wheelhouse
The way Gidey runs appears similar but at a much higher level. So show me the data that said she closed 10k with a sub-4 for the last 1500. That is world class even for that distance. Probably equivalent to a man running 3:35-40 in a 10k race.
Gidey has closed races in 60flat, i dont think parker could close a 16min 5k in 65 tbh. They arent that similar and gidey has a very pretty running form.
The way Gidey runs appears similar but at a much higher level. So show me the data that said she closed 10k with a sub-4 for the last 1500. That is world class even for that distance. Probably equivalent to a man running 3:35-40 in a 10k race.
She never did, poster probably mixed it up with the 2019 Doha 10k where Hassan closed in 3:59 and Gidey in 4:03. Also I agree that it's actually a pretty good comparison if you adjust for Gidey being world class. And since even Gidey somehow managed a 60s last lap when she won worlds in 2022 there might be some hope for Valby to improve on her kick too.
Yup I mixed it up. But I wouldn't be surprised if Parker didn't break 4:03 in a 1500
It's amazing to me seeing athletes that seem to have no idea on how to run be some of the fastest in the country/world. Emily Infeld looks like she is just learning how to run with her form. Paula Radcliff was all over the place. Michael Johnson even, everyone always commented on his form. For those coaches out there still hyper-focused on form all the time, you need to move on.
This. I honestly don't know what THE best biomechanics "experts" in the world know about distance running form. Not sure that it's a ton. But when you look at the huge variety of form - much of it not "great looking" - in world class distance runners, plus the biomechanical expertise that most or nearly all coaches lack, it's easy for me to believe that at least the following is true: 100% of high school distance coaches should COMPLETELY forget about form. Worry about volume, quality, rest, etc. Forget form.
(imagine all of the ignorant-but-kinda-arrogant HS distance coaches who would have been utterly convinced that they NEEDED to change the form of their students if their students were Salazar, Ngugi, Radcliff, Obiri, Nurmi, etc., etc., etc.)
It's amazing to me seeing athletes that seem to have no idea on how to run be some of the fastest in the country/world. Emily Infeld looks like she is just learning how to run with her form. Paula Radcliff was all over the place. Michael Johnson even, everyone always commented on his form. For those coaches out there still hyper-focused on form all the time, you need to move on.
This. I honestly don't know what THE best biomechanics "experts" in the world know about distance running form. Not sure that it's a ton. But when you look at the huge variety of form - much of it not "great looking" - in world class distance runners, plus the biomechanical expertise that most or nearly all coaches lack, it's easy for me to believe that at least the following is true: 100% of high school distance coaches should COMPLETELY forget about form. Worry about volume, quality, rest, etc. Forget form.
(imagine all of the ignorant-but-kinda-arrogant HS distance coaches who would have been utterly convinced that they NEEDED to change the form of their students if their students were Salazar, Ngugi, Radcliff, Obiri, Nurmi, etc., etc., etc.)
I would never change someone’s form except via drills, proper weight training, etc and let it change naturally. The exception would be arm swing for those who hold their hands too high.
She is 21. She is going to the Olympics in the 5k. Your statement is literally idiotic. Millions of people dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
She is 21. She is going to the Olympics in the 5k. Your statement is literally idiotic. Millions of people dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
I think people see that these others demonstrated more speed in college and after college got more endurance. Couple that with the speed and you get better closes. ESP did not seem to run the 5000 even once in college.
She is 21. She is going to the Olympics in the 5k. Your statement is literally idiotic. Millions of people dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
I think if you asked her, she’d prefer to have made the team
She is 21. She is going to the Olympics in the 5k. Your statement is literally idiotic. Millions of people dream of qualifying for the Olympics.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
Crazy prediction: Her PR will end up between 14:10 and 14:20, and she'll be in the mix in plenty of world class track races. But the East Africans will prevail most or all of the time.
Sound familiar?
It should. You know, like just about every other GREAT American distance runner, and the vast majority of others outside of East Africa. And it has nothing to do with Valby's form.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
I think people see that these others demonstrated more speed in college and after college got more endurance. Couple that with the speed and you get better closes. ESP did not seem to run the 5000 even once in college.
Well, unfortunately, the reality is that one can, if one chooses, see anything but the following as a failure for a U.S. runner: Able to run VERY low 14's, and kick like hell. Short of that, you're almost certainly not winning gold in WC or Olympics, and very likely not a medal.
But defining success ONLY like that would be dumb.
Some of these responses are incredible. Just dominated a college distance season like no other, and finished 4th in the Trials in an Olympic qualifying time. But yep, because some people don't like her form and/or she isn't yet kicking lift Yifter, she's got a grim future.
Could all of the smarty pants on this board tell me what Purrier, Cranny, and Schweitzer's college 5K PRs were ???
I think if you asked her, she’d prefer to have made the team
I think if you asked her, she’d prefer to have made the team
???
The point, of course, was that those 3 are OLDER.
As I said above, and is rather obvious, if you're going to be successful on the biggest of stages, you almost always need to be very fast AND with a good kick.
But on the vast majority of national stages, including the U.S., it IS possible to run away from everyone. Easy to imagine Valby in a future national championship race doing exactly that, IF she can run low 14's.
Disagree it is the arc trainer. She has always looked that way, it is just how she runs. Plus all her workouts are off the trainer.
Probably. We also look at one thing someone did differently and attribute success to that. ESP is tough because of all those cows right? Kessler is great cause of that core rock climbing strength. And so on down the list.
As I said above, and is rather obvious, if you're going to be successful on the biggest of stages, you almost always need to be very fast AND with a good kick.
But on the vast majority of national stages, including the U.S., it IS possible to run away from everyone. Easy to imagine Valby in a future national championship race doing exactly that, IF she can run low 14's.
I’m not sure we’re reading the same thread. Nobody said she wasn’t successful. I think you’re missing the point by focusing on her age. Nobody cares about her age, she doesn’t get bonus points for being young. Getting older doesn’t magically produce a kick. She has real form issues that she will need to correct if she wants to be competitive at the next level. I’m sure she wants to be competitive at the next level. It’s just true, sorry it hurts your feelings.
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