AWESOME Thanks for sharing!
AWESOME Thanks for sharing!
Just watched the women's race. Natalie Cook ran in the lead pack until the 5K mark then put the hammer down with an impressive last 1K. Her running form is still a bit disconcerting, but there's no doubt she's a winner. Yes, hope she stays healthy and look forward to seeing a Cook and Tuhoy matchup on this same xc course in November.
I agree. I watched the replay as well…. I’m surprised that Cook’s coaches haven’t worked on her weak calves, (she flails her legs out sideways in the back phase of her stride, and did this in high school as well). If it comes down to a sprint she won’t have the strength to hang in the last 400m, etc. I did notice; however, how impressively with about 2 1/2 minutes to go, she just pulled away and held the hammer down. Roe looked lethargic to me, I think she may have just had an off day but still held tough. (It’s their home course by the way, and did anyone else notice they hardly ever cut tangents? Roe and Cook where all over the place. They can run that course much faster).
It’s my understanding that the top 4 women all broke Taylor Roe’s previous course record of 20:25. So Cook’s 20:17 is seriously legit and can be even faster.
I think it’s going to take 19:30 to 19:45 to win it this year, and that’s saying a lot for this course. As long as the course conditions and weather are good come NCAA race day, I think the winner is going to have to be that fast. The women are just that good this year. Look how fast the times that are being run already are and it’s two months away from the championships!
If course conditions and weather are ideal? It’s up for grabs for about 5 to 6 women gut it out to win.
If it rains? Or even actually snows? Tuohy wins…
That's a strength imbalance issue that doesn't fix itself overnight if at all.
That likely has nothing to do with her calves. Most likely tight internal rotators and/or weak external rotators in the hip joint. It's pretty common and is usually the cause of that outward flick of her lower leg.
Alan