Putting aside his other issues, choosing Roche as her coach was a huge mistake. He was always trying to move her over to the trails and ultras but she is best at steeple.
Completely agree. If you watch her latest video she seems overtrained and knowing David's MO he will have her push through it with looove until she's injured..again. What does he know about steeplechase anyway he just likes to coach people with clout for his own benefit. Go get a real coach, Allie.
Seems a shame only three people were racing. I am hoping Allie isn’t fully tapered going into this race and can shave off quite a bit in Eugene, going to be very competitive and not sure she is quite there yet.
27-yr old (at the time) Annie Rodenfels, whom no one would mistake for a steepler, showed up in the steeplechase at last year’s Olympic Trials. Because of poor technique getting over the barriers, she went out right to the front in order to have a clean unobstructed approach. It was exciting for awhile, but she did eventually fade. Nonetheless, she came away with an amazing time (for her) of 9:22:66.
(The above account is how I remember it—I did check her finishing time—without going back and doing further fact checking.)
Quick fact-checking on TFRRS indicates Rodenfels ran DIII steeple at Centre (never heard of it); her collegiate best was 9:58.83.
Ostrander finished 0.84 seconds ahead of Rodenfels at last year’s Olympic Trials.
Not familiar with Centre College? One of the oldest, most controversial posters in LR history was a Centre guy. Does anyone remember who?
A couple of thoughts relative to this thread. To be a decent steepler you need the endurance to run a good 5000 and the speed strength to run a good 1500 and handle multiple accelerations and decelerations of pace. You need decent hurdle form to conserve energy and enough balance and coordination to comfortably handle getting bumped around in a crowd. (hurdle skills matter a lot less if you're a Kenyan or Ethiopian women who can run an 8:10 flat 3k). You need some, but not much, event specific work if you are an experienced steepler. The steeple really beats up your body. I could usually only run about 4 good steeples in an outdoor season, and then I was cooked for going any faster. I like to think I know something about the event since I squeeked into qualifying for the NCAA championships my senior year.
Allie's training and racing trail, mountain and other events probably is pretty good steeple prep, except for the lack of event specific work, which her injury probably precluded. She was trying to squeeze that in recently.
As for coaching, 90% (98%?) of us think David Roche is an annoying, flaky, nitwit of a coach we wouldn't want near our training. But, horses for courses, his cheerleeader style seems to be good for her personality with her apparent anxieties/insecurities about her training and performance. Also, for hurdling, if you watched her second most recent workout video, Colleen Quigley was at the track analyzing and coaching Allie's hurdling technique. It's tough to argue with results, and she did run her fastest opening steeple with a coach most of us question and all over-the-map injury limited recent training.
Solid result. Seems like she was just doing all this trail stuff and then suddenly USA’s is almost here and by the way she’s in the steeple. Good thing she got this rust buster in prior to nationals
Rust busting should have been MONTHS ago. I know she was injured but… its looking like she’s going be placing lower than last year and she’ll be disappointed and we’ll get some videos about it I guess
This. With Constein, Jennings, Halladay-Lowry, Markezich, Wayment, and Napoleon, you need to be in sub-8:10 shape to make this squad. US women’s steeplechase has gone up a level in terms of depth. I assume they know that, but 8:35 or even 8:25 means you’re doing the water jump when the leaders finish at USAs.
I thought she was clumsy with all the water jumps, she was slow on all but the last lap. she can be better with the laps but where can she practice water jumps
A couple of thoughts relative to this thread. To be a decent steepler you need the endurance to run a good 5000 and the speed strength to run a good 1500 and handle multiple accelerations and decelerations of pace. You need decent hurdle form to conserve energy and enough balance and coordination to comfortably handle getting bumped around in a crowd. (hurdle skills matter a lot less if you're a Kenyan or Ethiopian women who can run an 8:10 flat 3k). You need some, but not much, event specific work if you are an experienced steepler. The steeple really beats up your body. I could usually only run about 4 good steeples in an outdoor season, and then I was cooked for going any faster. I like to think I know something about the event since I squeeked into qualifying for the NCAA championships my senior year.
Allie's training and racing trail, mountain and other events probably is pretty good steeple prep, except for the lack of event specific work, which her injury probably precluded. She was trying to squeeze that in recently.
As for coaching, 90% (98%?) of us think David Roche is an annoying, flaky, nitwit of a coach we wouldn't want near our training. But, horses for courses, his cheerleeader style seems to be good for her personality with her apparent anxieties/insecurities about her training and performance. Also, for hurdling, if you watched her second most recent workout video, Colleen Quigley was at the track analyzing and coaching Allie's hurdling technique. It's tough to argue with results, and she did run her fastest opening steeple with a coach most of us question and all over-the-map injury limited recent training.
You are crazy if you think Roche is the only positive coach out there. And clearly Roche's positivity is faked for videos and social media, behind the scenes he is clearly unstable and deranged.
But worst of all, Roche is very manipulative. It seems like he is taking advantage of Allie and convincing her to do things that are counterproductive to her best events. And I bet he guilt-trips her for even trying to disagree. Like he makes it feel like Allie is making decisions on her own but really it's just Roche pulling the strings.
Leaving it a bit late for a "rust buster". I don't get the folks who think one or two races in the bag, before the big dance will suffice. Why not race more if not injured? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This. With Constein, Jennings, Halladay-Lowry, Markezich, Wayment, and Napoleon, you need to be in sub-8:10 shape to make this squad. US women’s steeplechase has gone up a level in terms of depth. I assume they know that, but 8:35 or even 8:25 means you’re doing the water jump when the leaders finish at USAs.
If you want to be real, she isn’t making the team even if she was full time all in on steeple. Might as well do other races you find interesting and make good content. Not everyone will be world class on the track, even if you have an NCAA title or two.
Given how her career turned out (3x NCAA steeple champion, World Team member), I always thought this post of hers was funny. I believe it was taken months before she ever did her first competitive steeplechase.
You are crazy if you think Roche is the only positive coach out there. And clearly Roche's positivity is faked for videos and social media, behind the scenes he is clearly unstable and deranged.
But worst of all, Roche is very manipulative. It seems like he is taking advantage of Allie and convincing her to do things that are counterproductive to her best events. And I bet he guilt-trips her for even trying to disagree. Like he makes it feel like Allie is making decisions on her own but really it's just Roche pulling the strings.
This. With Constein, Jennings, Halladay-Lowry, Markezich, Wayment, and Napoleon, you need to be in sub-8:10 shape to make this squad. US women’s steeplechase has gone up a level in terms of depth. I assume they know that, but 8:35 or even 8:25 means you’re doing the water jump when the leaders finish at USAs.
If you want to be real, she isn’t making the team even if she was full time all in on steeple. Might as well do other races you find interesting and make good content. Not everyone will be world class on the track, even if you have an NCAA title or two.
Wow Running UberNerd, the women are really running 8:10s for 3k steeple now? Man I’m an idiot, and to think I thought Daniel Lincoln was killing it back in the day!
This. With Constein, Jennings, Halladay-Lowry, Markezich, Wayment, and Napoleon, you need to be in sub-8:10 shape to make this squad. US women’s steeplechase has gone up a level in terms of depth. I assume they know that, but 8:35 or even 8:25 means you’re doing the water jump when the leaders finish at USAs.
I think 8.10 (or 8.25) would well and truly break the women’s WR. Can’t see that happening.
If you want to be real, she isn’t making the team even if she was full time all in on steeple. Might as well do other races you find interesting and make good content. Not everyone will be world class on the track, even if you have an NCAA title or two.
Wow Running UberNerd, the women are really running 8:10s for 3k steeple now? Man I’m an idiot, and to think I thought Daniel Lincoln was killing it back in the day!
He clearly means if you are running 8:10s for flat 3k, you hurdle form doesn't matter as much.
I like Allie, but the steeple team is going to be hard to make unless you’re running sub-9:15. Even though she’s been injured it seems she needs to focus on more racing to improve her speed.
May finish in the top 3 if some of the leaders fall down then would have to meet the standard which is doubtful.
A couple of thoughts relative to this thread. To be a decent steepler you need the endurance to run a good 5000 and the speed strength to run a good 1500 and handle multiple accelerations and decelerations of pace. You need decent hurdle form to conserve energy and enough balance and coordination to comfortably handle getting bumped around in a crowd. (hurdle skills matter a lot less if you're a Kenyan or Ethiopian women who can run an 8:10 flat 3k). You need some, but not much, event specific work if you are an experienced steepler. The steeple really beats up your body. I could usually only run about 4 good steeples in an outdoor season, and then I was cooked for going any faster. I like to think I know something about the event since I squeeked into qualifying for the NCAA championships my senior year.
I like to think that I know something about the steeplechase, as well. Unlike you, I didn't even qualify for the steeplechase my Senior year, so I'll have to defer to your expert opinion. ;-)
A couple of thoughts relative to this thread. To be a decent steepler you need the endurance to run a good 5000 and the speed strength to run a good 1500 and handle multiple accelerations and decelerations of pace. You need decent hurdle form to conserve energy and enough balance and coordination to comfortably handle getting bumped around in a crowd. (hurdle skills matter a lot less if you're a Kenyan or Ethiopian women who can run an 8:10 flat 3k). You need some, but not much, event specific work if you are an experienced steepler. The steeple really beats up your body. I could usually only run about 4 good steeples in an outdoor season, and then I was cooked for going any faster. I like to think I know something about the event since I squeeked into qualifying for the NCAA championships my senior year.
I like to think that I know something about the steeplechase, as well. Unlike you, I didn't even qualify for the steeplechase my Senior year, so I'll have to defer to your expert opinion. ;-)
Your post-collegiate steeple career was a bit longer and more illustrious than mine, so you seem to have figured the event out.
Clearly she thinks highly of David, even said so a couple of times. I think she fares better than what most are saying...........just because of her determination and some luck