Shelby Houlihan Fans -- Listen Up !!

Upon a second viewing, another big take-a-way:

Jerry: I think we can go after the 5k world record.

Shelby: Yeah, let's do it.

That's Gidey's 14:06.62 from Valencia last October.

Doubt that will be the target for the TX meet next month . . . but after a spring altitude session in Park City . . .

Great video. That's the most I have ever heard from her.

brighteyes wrote:

Great video. That's the most I have ever heard from her.

In a few weeks, LateRunnerPhil will be sharing his insider expertise on Shelbo's training.

On an older interview, she said she wants to be the first women under 14.

. . . as well as the first woman under 3:50 (but admitted she did not know if she was physically capable of either).

Pretty bold stuff to publicly reveal that Jerry broached the idea of a 5k WR -- implying this year, not 3 -4 years from now -- which would put Shelby very near 14-flat if she could surpass Gidey's mark.

Have to believe their thinking is that if Gidey -- who had never broken 14:23 before Valencia -- can run a 14:06, then so can Shelby (and possibly Karissa).

Also wondering if this emphasis on the 5k means she may be ditching the 1500 or is simply strength building prior to specific 1500 training for Tokyo.

Quite the bold move by Jerry & Shelby to make this all public.

I heard Shelbo talk at NXR Heartland back in 2016. That was right after joining bowerman. Had a lot of good insights.

I have never seen her bonk. But a 13:59 will require her to split a 3k at a time that she has only hit once in her life. How is she going to run her 2nd fastest 3k ever and then run 2 more kilometers at the same pace?

You've never seen her bonk but she's had a tough time kicking off a fast pace. I hope this year long training block fixes that so she can pick up a global medal in the near future. She's been the dominant American track runner for 2+ years. I want to see her get some hardware!

she won’t. she will never break 14. she’s an amazing runner and fun to watch but she won’t break 14

Great that she's thinking big but she's nowhere close to WR at 5k or 1500. I don't think she'll ever run in the 14:20s again.

Now, Hassan, I can see her holding the 1500, 5k, and 10k WRs by then end of 2022

Big Card wrote:

I have never seen her bonk. But a 13:59 will require her to split a 3k at a time that she has only hit once in her life. How is she going to run her 2nd fastest 3k ever and then run 2 more kilometers at the same pace?

Gidey's best 3k before her 14:06 was 8:22 in a fast paced race at Pre. Houlihan's 8:27 was off a modest start and was indoor (Jerry has stated he doesn't like his athletes at top shape indoor unlike Salazar). Plus Houlihan's 3:54.9 indicates she can run around 8:18 in the 3k. I wouldn't count her out. She looked really relaxed in her 14:23 w/ a 61 last 400 (Gidey 67). The first 3k was 8:47 (14:39 pace) and she wasn't wearing the newer spikes. Add these factors in, I think she was at least 14:15 shape that day.

Excellent points above re: Shelby's 14:23 last summer.

At that point, Shelby's AR was 14:34.45.

The plan for that race was to run 70-second laps (14:35 pace) then kick the last lap or two after the rabbits had dropped off to get the record. That pace would be 8:45 @ 3k so they were a little slow. No matter, as Shelby & Karissa had plenty left in their tanks to blow away the old record.

Now, using roughly the same strategy, a world record chase would likely have the race go out at 68-second laps (14:10 pace) then kick a couple of 66s the end to dip under 14:06.62. That would take the race through 3k in 8:30.

(Note: to break 14 off 68s, the last two laps would have to be 63s - a very tall order.)

Agree w/post above that a mid-summer-peak Shelby could handle such a pace through 3k. Whether she can keep on cranking out 68s for another 4 laps then squeeze out a 64 final lap is the $64M question. But, she sounds game for it.

When would this race take place? If Tokyo is cancelled/postponed then anytime Jerry & Shelby want. However, presuming we have an Olympics this year, would it be wise to try something like this in April or May or wait until August or September after the Games are over?