Oklahoma State course is a joy to run on. The footing is perfect. There are long flat stretches to go along with some nice hills. The 6k really has 2 large hills but otherwise is very fast.
By my count there are 5 large hills - ~1500 m, ~2500m, ~3500 m, ~4500 m, ~5500 m. Of course there are downhill sections too.
The hills take about 20 seconds to climb. So if good hill runners take 40 seconds to climb 2 big hills, even a terrible hill runner will only take 25 seconds eachbor 50 total. 10 seconds of difference won't be enough to overcome the 30 seconds that Valby pulls on the flats.
Oklahoma State course is a joy to run on. The footing is perfect. There are long flat stretches to go along with some nice hills. The 6k really has 2 large hills but otherwise is very fast.
By my count there are 5 large hills - ~1500 m, ~2500m, ~3500 m, ~4500 m, ~5500 m. Of course there are downhill sections too.
To be able to run fast downhill without getting injured requires practice, too.
My question was about ALL the runners who are potential title contenders for team and individual (cook, roe, chelangat, tuohy, etc)
It's about strategy to win the Team title. Henes and other title contender team coaches may tell the teams to pack run to a certain point in the race. This is pretty common in XC. Valby will be running solo to get the individ title only.
My question is - what will be the strategy for these teams? Will they tell their low low sticks to pack run or chase the lead?
The Stride Report just came out with their individual rankings. There are some interesting movements, both up and down for a lot of these athletes. I’m actually surprised they have Valby in 5th…
Nobody is going with Valby. Tuohy fans will claim that Tuohy lost because she is a team player.
My question was about ALL the runners who are potential title contenders for team and individual (cook, roe, chelangat, tuohy, etc)
It's about strategy to win the Team title. Henes and other title contender team coaches may tell the teams to pack run to a certain point in the race. This is pretty common in XC. Valby will be running solo to get the individ title only.
My question is - what will be the strategy for these teams? Will they tell their low low sticks to pack run or chase the lead?
If it is crazy fast then noone will go with Valby, hence my Kiptoo and Mantz analogy. If I am OSU/AL/NC St I have my top 2 go with the leader if it it reasonable, and then my next group hang back a little and keep eyes out for NM who usually starts off slower and build.
I ran the course last week. I really count only 2 as large hills. the others are 25-30 feet and you can roll right through.
All 5 I counted go up 40 ft I believe, 3 being shorter and steeper and 2 (the "final" hill) being longer and more gradual. 2 hills on first loop and 3 on 2nd loop. This does not count the ripples around 2K and 5K.
Front-running has been the Valby m.o. for at least a couple years, and the course at Stillwater is not the flats of College Station. Those who can vie for the win are not going to let her run off over the horizon, and the second time around on the east side of the course will sort things out.
The Stride Report just came out with their individual rankings. There are some interesting movements, both up and down for a lot of these athletes. I’m actually surprised they have Valby in 5th…
The Stride Report just came out with their individual rankings. There are some interesting movements, both up and down for a lot of these athletes. I’m actually surprised they have Valby in 5th…
Surprised Jepkirui is so low (#34) when she beat Cook's time from a few weeks ago.
The Stride Report just came out with their individual rankings. There are some interesting movements, both up and down for a lot of these athletes. I’m actually surprised they have Valby in 5th…
Surprised Jepkirui is so low (#34) when she beat Cook's time from a few weeks ago.
Yea I have her 15-20 for now, but they may not be high enough. 20:20 on that course for someone without much experience and leading start to finish (I think) is pretty good.
Racing on it and just running it are two different things, particularly if it’s just one loop.
We’ll get some more insight at Oxford next week where no one will be out for a ‘tempo’ or ‘getting adjusted to larger field of runners’ or other things that pre-championship meets are used for.
Do you think the teams will go all out for conference champs? Trying to assess if we will see some real racing ahead of nationals at the various conferences.
My question was about ALL the runners who are potential title contenders for team and individual (cook, roe, chelangat, tuohy, etc)
It's about strategy to win the Team title. Henes and other title contender team coaches may tell the teams to pack run to a certain point in the race. This is pretty common in XC. Valby will be running solo to get the individ title only.
My question is - what will be the strategy for these teams? Will they tell their low low sticks to pack run or chase the lead?
A couple of points that I am interested in peoples thoughts...The Team Race vs the Individual title?? What is the general consensus of some of you more knowledgeable folks...would Henes ever tell Tuohy to NOT chase the lead in order to ensure the Team wins??
Personally, I think any of the potential Individual winners would be focused on the win and not worried about holding back. I believe its your 10-30th potential placements that you tell to not try to chase the front pack...run your own race to maximize the team finish.
As for the race, I will say the same thing about Valby as I have for Cook...she ran a fast race and is certainly a strong contender for the title, but I put very little in faith in any one race. Especially if it is on a different style course and not against any legitimate contender. Valby will be very strong and has much more experience than Cook...but what will Valby do when she runs out fast, but Mercy, McCabe, Roe, Tuohy are all there beside her?? Does she try to push the pace too much?? I would think this is likely more of an issue for Cook as she has never been against that type of talent.
Personally, I expect the front pack will end up being 7 or 8 strong, maybe Valby or Cook or Mercy try to take off - but its very doubtful they pull away from the pack that much.
It will be fun to make predictions on this race....very interesting how quickly people are willing to not even consider some of the strongest finishers from last year just because they haven't put out a peak performance yet...Denner (9th), Markezich (11), Heckel (18), larkin (21), Asekol (29th), Van Camp (37) - both Asekol and van camp were similar times to Valby last year.
I would say that there are 10 runners with a legitimate shot to win, and likely the most talented top 15 - 20 runners in the final field that the NCAA's will have in a long time.
and this does not include runners like Stearns, Mitchell, Hertenstein, Kemboi, Frentheway, Ramsden etc etc who have already put up good times this year.
This will be a fun race to watch.....so many good runners!!!
