Is Natalie training in Boulder this summer? If so, maybe Parker could visit her friend during her Colorado trip.
A random musing…
Natalie: Say Parker, I know Florida is special to you but would you consider joining us here at CU? We could do long elliptical workouts together. And maybe you could help us hoist the trophy this fall at NCAA’s, yeah?!!
In a short time she's had a great career even if she accomplishes nothing else - NCAA runner up and champion. And she's a publicists dream - willing to talk, transparent and a bit off the beaten track (so to speak). I think she has a trusting nature - and that is attractive as well as a bit worrisome.
She's wealthy and connected enough she could probably write a book. The wealthy operate in circles the middle-class will never see. Hence a lot of writers that get into Big 6 publishing usually come from wealth.
Not to take away from anyone who enjoyed this podcast, but I personally didn’t like the way the pod host conducted the “conversation”, as he called it. Felt like he was trying to be friends with Parker instead of doing his job, which was interviewing her. Not that he can’t be friendly, but the tone was a little cringey, like he was trying to be overly friendly, and there was very little actual digging into interesting storylines. As soon as Parker made a slight inclination of resistance to talking about her situation with her new coach, he changed subjects and never brought it up again. Like, you won’t at least ask if there’s anything going on there?
Several times the host expressed negative opinions about the way certain “media” groups conduct themselves in the sport, as if he somehow does it better. The funny part was he contradicted his own opinions on this. E.g. he complained the media always brings up Katelyn when interviewing Parker—then proceeded to do exactly that in his interviewing. Also told Parker he doesn’t believe the “mix zone” is a healthy media practice and didn’t partake in it at NCAAs despite having credentials—then Parker told him he should use it next time and he was basically like “oh yeah I definitely should!” Just felt like he was sucking up to her so bad.
there is absolutely nothing wrong with a plain old interview. You’re not reinventing the wheel by sucking up to your interviewee— you’re just not getting the most out of your interview. Believe it or not, we listen to these podcast types because we want to hear answers to interesting, deep, and sometimes challenging questions. There is always from for friendliness, but professionalism is the other side of the coin in this field. Do not neglect it in the hopes it might earn you points with Parker Valby.
He may be trying to build influence with her, and get well known in running media a la Chavez.
Even with his faults he'd do no worse than Ali on the Run...
This is only the second time I have listened to the Running Effect, the first being the infamous non-apologetic, I didn't do it interview with Shelby--was that last year or 2021?
More power to Running Effect, it's successful but he still comes off as a high school fan boy.
Parker Valby is also a work in progress. She did come off as funny at NCAAs this month, and that carried over but what's up with that $20K, and how they wheedled it from her? Hope that she has a good career and will just leave it there.
My son graduated with his masters last month. He has about $45k in the bank from his internships.
She hasn't been in school that long and doesn't have time for internships since she is racing in three sports a year. Your son's situation would be very rare for a college junior.
Are you kidding? You think a real job earning $100K isn't way more stressful than being a pro distance runner? They run. They eat. They sleep. They lift. They get a massage. They nap. They eat some more. They talk about what movie they all want to watch at night.
She won't be able to take that stress either. Her best bet for the first few years is to become an Instagram model like that girl from Oregon who ran 15:36 (Kosinski) about 10 years ago did.
I can't believe people are having an argument about the abilities of various running YouTubers, and nobody has mentioned the greatest of all time, 22-mile trail running world record holder Seth DeMoor! I mean he made a go of it for 7 years with a growing family, if Brown or Bowden want to do the same in their 20s, travel around, run and do the best they can, let them. That said, I did watch Brown run the C heat of the Stumptown 800m over the weekend. That was almost as ugly as my last 800! Took the lead through 400m then got passed by everyone to finish last in 1:54. Spencer you ought to give up the mid distance stuff and stick your nose in a 10k, or better yet run cross country this fall and a marathon in the Spring. They said they have a local XC series in Portland on the broadcast. Run that!
He doesn't want to run more than 35 mpw, and he ran a 1:50.88 800m in HIGH SCHOOL! his genetic talent doesn't lean towards the marathon, or XC, or even the 10k on the roads. You saw him run the event he is suited for, or at least one of them. What makes you think him running a 2:40 marathon would be interesting to anyone?
He hasn't had a single PR in four summers since he left school, and he clearly keeps implying that THAT has been Mackey's fault and then his Dad's fault. All the while running 35 mpw. I've never once seen him hypothesize that he just isn't disciplined enough to handle proper training. He's training at the level I did during 9th grade. Below the level I took up the Summer after, and he is MUCH MORE TALENTED than I ever was at the middle distances.
It's baffling sometimes why runners in Valby's situation don't just...leave the sport?
I suppose I'm just surprised that we have to watch so many elite collegians flame out in the pros. It's as if the path for earning a degree and maybe a title or two (IF YOURE LUCKY) and into an easier, safer, more lax life is just simply non-existent.
And this is in no sense meant as a dig. The vast majority of all collegiate athletes in other sports simply do walk away, even the best of the best.
Go watch Philly Bowden, TAS. Go listen to Morgan McDonald. These people are living miserable lives trying to cling on to a running career that just simply is not there anymore.
The fact that TAS has had a better post-collegiate career than McDonald and Bowden is hard to grasp. However, he has finally started embracing the fact that he doesn't have the wheels he used to and is instead keeping things light.
You are joking right? post collegiality TAS couldn’t even make the olympic trials whilst MM made and ran in an olympic team he may have struggled with injuries but Spencer you got to stop posting about urself
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