Valby’s post race interview

14:49. She has to lead. She knows no other way. She'll blow up leading a 14:30-pace race until she can handle 14:30-something pace.

I think what he tried to say, is imagine what she can do in a race that is paced to 14:30-something, when she doesn’t have to be the pacer, but instead can sit on gals a little faster than her, rather than have to be the pacer for them. That option was not available in the Trials race, since those pros, already possessing the standard and fast miler speed, had no desire to push the pace.

This has been covered before. She doesn't owe you any kind of decorum for you to approve. Take a side seat.

I found her to be gracious and sincere and I think she did the best she could with some lame questions (How much did you want to make the Olympic team? Seriously, that's a question? Would they ask that of a man who finished 4th in the 100 meters? No. They would not.).

I have been a critic of some of her interviews, in which she didn't seem to know if she wanted to be sincere, or playful and would waffle back and forth strangely (acknowledging that she is young and there is a learning curve). I think she is much more comfortable and composed now.

WITH THAT SAID...

I found the most interesting exchange to be at about 4:00, when she shares what her coach was telling her to do ("stay short") and she says, "whatever that means."

The coach-athlete relationship isn't where it needs to be if advice from the coach is not understood by the athlete. Either the coach has to make things more clear, the athlete needs to speak up when she doesn't understand, they have to develop a common language that has meaning and can be operationalized, and this has to happen in training, LONG before the Olympic trials.

That was a literal letsrun question on this interview though lol

Why is Jonathan Gault the only interviewer with good questions? Is everyone else redarted?

Cranney had glitter on. What are we to make of that?