Parker Valby/Natalie Cook - what am I missing?

ya. i dont get it. i guess the most comparable information we have to go off of is triathlete training. are there examples of triathletes transitioning to just run training, or runners transitioning to tri training, with times staying nearly the same?

I guess it’s also impossible to know what’s really going on behind the scenes but it doesn’t seem like they have some huge aerobic base from elsewhere even like Ben True’s xc skiing before he started track. I guess we’ll see…

I think sometimes things tend to get embellished as to how little someone is doing just to seem more impressive. No hate to them at all, clearly very talented and impressive athletes themselves, but no one really knows what training they are doing. Also, Cook is still very young and so a lot more simple talent factors in with this case, I think the way she improves in the future will show how valuable or not valuable this low mileage high cross training technique is

However, British triathlete Beth Potter managed to run 14:xx in a 5k off 30 miles a week and triathlon training. However, she already had a strong running background that might’ve helped as all that training is not just lost.

These athletes are probably cross training large amounts in order to keep their aerobic capacity and lactate threshold high. Then they just need to keep a bit of fast running in order to work on form, turnover, and speed. If you add up their training hours, they are probably putting in more minutes than if they were mostly running.

I was thinking something similar. For example as a 65-year-old who finds recovery tough, could I run better and burn more calories by three good running sessions a week and an hour of stationary cycling on the other days?

I'm sure that these talented young ladies can run very well with a lot of aerobic effort on bike and eliptical and three quality sessions. If you are building/maintaining aerobic effort it probably doesn't matter if it's not through running, as long as there are also race pace sessions.

Not quite the same, but my sister who is W60 won the 800m and mile indoor USATF this year off four days a week actual running, and a lot of pool running.

The question I have, and it is a question, is how hard is it to train that way, probably isolated from teammates on most days and having to put in training by yourself?

There is no way that Natalie Cook is going to be able to cross her way down to a 14:40 5k and make a US team.

Cross training has it's limits.

Who knows? Some people have a ton of talent and are tough as nails but are contently injured. I've coached people who "overacheive" based on how much they train... I've also coached many who do the exact opposite.

I know nothing about Valby other than watching her race yesterday (and listening to the announcers, who may or may not know exactly what anyone is doing for training) however the one thing I noticed is that kid did not quit even when it was clear she wasn't going to win... just looks like a tough kid to me... same with the girl from Yale who was 2nd in the steeple ... not great form just tough as nails. Props to both

* constantly

Gwen didn't get much faster when doing track full time. Some people run fast on little training and also get fit quick.

I also have a feeling if I was able to do 60mins of pool running and 3 runs, I would be in good shape. But I think I might go insane from trying that😁. Start doing less specific training and the benefits drop.

Exactly, anyone can say whatever they want! Doesn't mean it's the whole truth! Sounds like these babes aren't including easy runs as part of that so they do like two or three track workouts a week and then do an easy run in addition... Anyway if you do two track workouts and then an easy run and do a heck of a lot of other cardio that's plenty to be in really good shape... Also it's not really a sign that you're destined for greatness if you're dealing with injuries from normal mileage

They’re not telling the whole truth, plain and simple. They’re omitting information that would make it clear their mileage is higher than it would appear. A lot of people due this because it’s “impressive” and makes people think “imagine how good they could be if they could run x miles”. It’s an ego trip for a lot of athletes. Unless I can see your log, and even then I don’t entire trust it, I do not believe anybody when it comes to the “low mileage” types who make it a point to tel you how little they run. Like, unprompted “I only run twice a week” yeah sure kid.

Do this*

Or how she does or doesn't improve in the future will show just how close she is to her ceiling already, irrespective of any training method.