Also a few posts mentioned her form, form doesn’t change overnight. You run the way you run due to weaknesses, imbalances, flexibility, etc. All of those improved with more time running, and getting stronger.
Dave Smith knows what the hell he is doing, she will get a whole lot stronger and her form will clean itself up over time.
Yet another person who has no idea what they're talking about.
Natalie Cook doesn't have a "form" problem. She was born with crooked legs. Dave Smith can't correct that, and neither can any other coach.
Looks to me like there might be a twisting (outward rotation) force applied to her feet during push-off, which might contribute to her navicular stress reaction/fracture problems.
Lucky for you to run 100-170 miles a week on the roads and sidewalks without getting hurt. You're clearly the exception to the proven scientific rule that excessive running (impact) on hard surfaces substantially increases the risk of stress fractures. You're also the exception to the proven widespread rule that running on softer surfaces (trails/grass) drastically reduces stress fractures. Also, you're the FIRST runner to claim that "icing" a stress fracture healed it...WOW! And, finally... this quote is a gem "Injuries happen. Trying to attribute the cause is foolish". Hmmm... If I was injured I would like to know what the cause was (shoes, diet, training surfaces, etc...) so I can adjust accordingly and "get back in the game". With that archaic thought process you must have left a lot on the table when you retired.
I dont disagree, but to be accuate there is no proof of either of your claims at all.
Uhhh...Oh yes there is! and you don't need to be a doctor to know that, just look it up.
I dont disagree, but to be accuate there is no proof of either of your claims at all.
No proof? 1977. Stress fracture in March. American record in June.
What? You're a bit off course here Mr. Foghorn. That's 12 weeks to heal a stress fracture, if in fact it was a stress fracture, which is plenty of time to "get back in the game", and well done by the way on the AR. BUT...your ill advised comment of "Injuries happen. Trying to attribute the cause is foolish" is short sided and lame, as is implying a 170 miles a week of running on roads and sidewalks won't increase the risk of getting a stress fracture...or maybe you're just too tough, like Dick Butkus (correct spelling).
I dont disagree, but to be accuate there is no proof of either of your claims at all.
Uhhh...Oh yes there is! and you don't need to be a doctor to know that, just look it up.
Its well established that running surfaces dont cause injury. We run on an inch and half of space age foams not bare feet? The evidence base is completely lacking. Anecdotally? Sure, we all seem to feel rotating surfaces is likely good...maybe.
Lucky for you to run 100-170 miles a week on the roads and sidewalks without getting hurt. You're clearly the exception to the proven scientific rule that excessive running (impact) on hard surfaces substantially increases the risk of stress fractures. You're also the exception to the proven widespread rule that running on softer surfaces (trails/grass) drastically reduces stress fractures. .
I know there are studies that show that impact activities improve bone density. I ran 60+ mpw the week I started running, and within several years 100-140 mpw, and never had a stress fracture. In fact, I was pretty convinced that running was keeping my bone density high.
I haven't really looked to see if there are studies that show the opposite. I wouldn't be surprised because many runners do get stress fractures. But I imagine that might be the case for people that are not eating what their body demands. It would be hard to divine the cause from a study without a lot of more invasive data collection on calories consumed with food actually weighed, etc.
The navicular bone helps maintain the arch of the foot in conjunction with the arch muscles. The muscles were too weak so more and more of the force ended up going to the bone.
Running in modern shoes tends to cause strong glutes, upper and lower legs but relatively weak feet. Hopefully she can strengthen her feet to avoid future injuries. Yes her form is a bit odd but plenty of Kenyan women have weird form without injury problems. The issue is a weak link in the chain.
Yet another person who has no idea what they're talking about.
Natalie Cook doesn't have a "form" problem. She was born with crooked legs. Dave Smith can't correct that, and neither can any other coach.
But to the others point, she does have bad form - due to her deformity. That bad form/deformity is a huge risk factor for injury (knee, foot, hip) Watching a track 5K race she won, she is a huge toe runner, which puts a lot of force on the metatarsals and again, no surprise that she has a navicular stress fracture.
The navicular bone helps maintain the arch of the foot in conjunction with the arch muscles. The muscles were too weak so more and more of the force ended up going to the bone.
Running in modern shoes tends to cause strong glutes, upper and lower legs but relatively weak feet. Hopefully she can strengthen her feet to avoid future injuries. Yes her form is a bit odd but plenty of Kenyan women have weird form without injury problems. The issue is a weak link in the chain.
Working in some barefoot running drills will strengthen feet.
Uhhh...Oh yes there is! and you don't need to be a doctor to know that, just look it up.
Its well established that running surfaces dont cause injury. We run on an inch and half of space age foams not bare feet? The evidence base is completely lacking. Anecdotally? Sure, we all seem to feel rotating surfaces is likely good...maybe.
The question is, What type of injury? Soft tissue, stress fractures, chronic leg fatigue, etc.... Ideally, the below quote seems accurate:
"I think it is worthwhile, at the very least, to consider where your leg soreness and muscle fatigue are coming from. Perhaps running on a harder surface would serve you better than a softer one in certain conditions or vice versa, especially when you are particularly fatigued or sore from a long, high-intensity effort".
If you get 'em right you can take over recruiting.
All good recruits. None immune to bad luck or pushing so hard they get hurt, but 100% good.
I've been looking at the stats on recruit performance and it really is astounding. Stats show 1 of the above 10m will be all-american, 1-2 more will be top 7 on a good team and 7 will be injured/red shirt/regress.
I've shown this before, but here's why coaches still recruit these theoretically risky kids.
NC St champ team: Touhy 2020 #1 recruit, Chmiel 2019 #1, Bush - coached up, Moreno 2018 #2, Rauber 2021#3.
Without taking a chance on top recruits, there is no title. The key though is getting them healthy to the start line.
If you think, however, that state has this figured out, think again. In the famous hs Class of 2020 that led to all the NC St attention in the first place, only 1 out of those 5 runners has ever scored at the national xc meet, and those ladies will all be in their 4th year of college next xc season.
OSU had the benefit of All-American Cook for their podium xc team and now deal w/ injury downside. Touhy arrived in college injured, Chmiel missed a track season, Moreno out now, Rauber red shirted her 1st year. Injuries are just a big part of the sport; teams have to work through it, or be lucky to have a full team healthy at the right time.
All good recruits. None immune to bad luck or pushing so hard they get hurt, but 100% good.
I've been looking at the stats on recruit performance and it really is astounding. Stats show 1 of the above 10m will be all-american, 1-2 more will be top 7 on a good team and 7 will be injured/red shirt/regress.
I've shown this before, but here's why coaches still recruit these theoretically risky kids.
NC St champ team: Touhy 2020 #1 recruit, Chmiel 2019 #1, Bush - coached up, Moreno 2018 #2, Rauber 2021#3.
Without taking a chance on top recruits, there is no title. The key though is getting them healthy to the start line.
If you think, however, that state has this figured out, think again. In the famous hs Class of 2020 that led to all the NC St attention in the first place, only 1 out of those 5 runners has ever scored at the national xc meet, and those ladies will all be in their 4th year of college next xc season.
OSU had the benefit of All-American Cook for their podium xc team and now deal w/ injury downside. Touhy arrived in college injured, Chmiel missed a track season, Moreno out now, Rauber red shirted her 1st year. Injuries are just a big part of the sport; teams have to work through it, or be lucky to have a full team healthy at the right time.
This exactly. My daughter was part of the heralded 2020 class and was not a star recruit- but has been "coached up" and has trained hard, while avoiding injuries and was a scoring member of a top 5 team at xc nationals while many of the girls who finished a minute ahead of her at nxn are now either injured, regressing, or have quit the sport. Top recruits are super important for building a winning team but so is keeping those who are on the team healthy and improving.
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