Parker Valby says she only run 2-3 days per week

Obviously is BS. Not even Bekele at his prime could just run even 5 days a week and perform at top level. Good try skinny girl.

Yes, Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 minute mile on about 25 miles per week of interval training--with no additional cross-training.

She knows her body and she is definitely one special athlete.

I see threads saying a particular athlete has made big gains because they are putting in big miles - maybe 200 a week. Now I see a thread where people suggest it's quite normal to make big gains on next to no miles - like 20 or 30 miles a week. It must all be due to cross training.

I wish you people would make up your mind. Either modern performances are based on hard training or they aren't. Bannister's programme seems to work just as well. But that may be because some performance gains don't actually have that much to do with training. There's something else.

you can gets gains both ways.

I improved a lot after college running 4 times per week on 25-40 miles per week (quality running), but i also improved years later running 4 months at 150 miles per week.

It's not that complicated. Anything that stresses the body leads to adaptation given proper rest. and it not an either or.

You are still saying it doesn't matter what kind of training you do - whether you train hard or only a little, you can get big gains. That goes against everything that is understood to be necessary to high performance: training matters - and for a distance athlete there is no getting around the need for mileage. That is, unless you've found another way.

This.

There might be an optimal way for each individual, but I’d guess that may even change over the scope of a career. A training stimulus may cease to work for an athlete.

re: Valby. She’s the most genetically gifted. That’s her #1 asset. Talent is her base. There have been others like her. Crosstraining for general aerobic fitness and weight management plus targeted running workouts for specific fitness and running economy = racing success for the super fragile, uber talented.

Yep, when you're "genetically-gifted" you don't have to train as hard as everyone else.

A pro career in running is a big ? Ever hear of Verzbicas, I’ll bet she goes to the triathlon.

I know weight is totally taboo but does anyone know Parker Valby height?

Google doesn't even know.

She's not 5'2" I can figure that much and I think she is taller than 5'4"

See what I mean, taller than average:

Open image

Remember she is 23 years old and will be 24 as a senior. She is older than most Jrs.. This helps her performances.

Staying injury free > more easy mileage

Talent and consistency are key. Plus cross training is keeping the aerobic system going.

Long term hopefully she can work on improving her bodies resilience and move up the days ran per week. I think she could be much better on 3-4 or 4-5 days a week of running, but no need to push for 6-7

What place would she have gotten at the NCAA meet today?

I tend to believe her because she's young and talented. No mention of other types of training that I'm aware of by her. And based on past interviews she always looks to improve (she's learned tangents). It's also indicative of why she only knows one gear. Tempp runs would help her to learn how to change gears. But for not sure how low mileage will translate when she turns pro, it will be another challenge though.

After years of cross training and dealing with triathlon workouts, I know it’s totally possible. It’s not like she’s prepping for a 10K or half marathon. It will be interesting to see how Bowerman transitions her and how a part time runner can compete at the next level.

I believe it.

3 days a week running above average miles and intensity + cross train longer and higher intensity than easy running days + less aches = faster racer.

Elizabeth Leachman just won Nike South Regionals with a low 16 minute run almost a minute ahead of other nationally ranked runners like Samantha Humphries with this same type of training 20-30 miles a week.

It makes complete sense if all your runs are quality and your aerobic base is built injury free cross training. They key people are missing is that running 30 miles a week doesn't mean she's just that talented doing less than everyone, I bet the aerobic load of that cross training exceeds what many of the top competitors are running the other 4 days of week easy-medium.

At 30 miles you’ve gotten most of your adaptations. It’s not like a 14 minute 5K runner on 90 miles a week would be a 20 minute on 30. More like a 15.

It could be that she’s talented enough to leave some pace on the table. She won’t be able to do this as a pro.

Is it any surprise the biggest anonymous Coward on this site in Armslivs shows up on this thread?