Much Respect to Parker Valby

This right here; she didn't 'deflate' when they went by her, she kept it floored and for a brief moment there I even thought she was going to get herself back up to Karissa. Whatever anyone might think of her otherwise, she is one very tough cookie. Kudos for going for it the way she did.

You are technically correct here, but I think people are calling brave because so many others seem content to just sit around behind a slow pace even when it's clear they have zero chance with that approach. Yes it was the only way she had a chance, but in a very high pressure situation after already having run a heat, seeing someone actually DO what she did is very refreshing.

She made the race so much better to watch and her tactic gave her a legit chance. The other three had their A game so it didn't quite work out, but if any of them had an off day, it would've worked out in her favor.

She's going to continue to get stronger and the gaps will narrow.

Valby has at least 4 or 5 things that are interesting about her. Dumb question.

She met the Olympic Standard to get to the 14:52 threshold. Despite her denials that was the goal, along with hoping 3 others wouldn’t beat her to the finish. Since this represented a PB I don’t know how anyone could have expected more. She was just beat by faster runners. But make no mistake 14:40 won’t get you to the podium in Paris. Without Monson the American team looks weak in terms of international competition. Parker’s body is telling her that at this time her level of fitness is in the 14:50’s. As she improves, given good health/lack of injury, she should be able to join the gang of 3 in the 14:40’s. Other things will need to improve to get to 14:00-14:20 level.

ESP on whether she intends to double at the Olympics.

“I haven’t made that decision, but I think the schedule would be pretty tough.”

Prior to that, she discussed what went into her decision to run the 5K at the trials. Seems like the 1500 is her priority.

Parker might get rewarded for gutting it out at the end to get the standard, when she could have easily jogged it in.

I saw that Tuohy wound up running a 15:33 (season’s best time). This is reasonable considering her recent multiple injuries (hamstring, IT band and back) and lack of running time on the road to recovery. I was afraid she reinjured herself and fell back because of it. In fact she must have overtaken a number of runners on the last lap to wind up where she did. I’m sure this must have been a bit of a disappointment considering her performance on her 4th place finish last week. She did the best her body would let her and I’m quite sure she’ll be back to attacking sub-15 in due time. Her future still looks bright, despite the Vabymania furor of late. They will both improve and be competitive with each other.

What am I missing here? Why such hate for a great young runner?

Could see it coming --- low mileage, no base.....

Where have you gone Arthur Lydiard....

All I know is that that was the first 5000 meter race I've seen in a while where many of the competitors were laid out on the track completely spent after the race was over.

Looked like what a crew looks like after a hard rowing race. Everybody was spent.

The Andrews bots strike again

Interesting. I had the exact opposite reaction. I am not a super fan, just a guy watching the race. I am not even going to tell you that your reaction is wrong.

What I saw was a runner who decided that she wasn’t going to give up and was ready to go to war at the end of a race. The second I saw her spit on the track and reposition herself for a battle, I said to my wife, “Here we go, she means business. She’s not giving up.” And she didn’t.

I just find it interesting that we had such different reactions.

They brought their A games? St. Pierre ran 8:21 indoors, and beat Tsegay, while Schweizer has run 14:26. Again, Cranny and St. Pierre, didn’t even run 10K world record pace.

Valby repeated her outdoor NCAA race, and finished with a 71.8 last 400m. That’s equivalent to a guy finishing with a 65, and if Young ran that, Mike Smith would be roasted on LR. Guys are about 30 seconds per mile faster than women, so her finishing time was equivalent to running in the low 13:20’s. As far as continuing to get stronger, her performance yesterday, was similar to her XC championship and what she ran in Boston.

In regard to the thread about her running the 5 in Paris, if she does, she won’t be seen on T.V.

You Valby fanatics are over the top and I’m sure this post will be down voted, but it’s accurate.

Parker's style seems like a US version of Letesenbet. Good pace runner, but not great in a head to head contest. Hope she runs smart and stays uninjured though.

OK for a man to spit but not a woman?

Very interesting run. You knew watching the race what would happen, but she held on better than I expected. She's at least in position to take a spot if one of the top 3 drops, which is probably the best outcome possible.

I think she was banking on Karissa not being quite so good. Her strategy was perfect for the #3 spot otherwise. There was no way she was beating St Pierre or Cranny.

If she can develop some speed, she'll be a major threat. She needs to get her 1500 times down.

St Pierre's son running onto the track with her is my favorite moment of the Trials so far.

On the contrary, would it have been better if she'd spit when Karissa et al. were *behind* her and had her spit go all over them? I see it as courtesy to wait until they had past before spitting. That's basic running etiquette.

She can only improve her strength, like Young did. It’s hard to see her ever running sub-4:10.