Tinman “elite” is an oxymoron but there has to be pro coaches (ritz and smith) who can worknwith the unique training circumstances like valby and Natalie cook (btw any update?). Florida coach Palmer can’t be the only one.
I can’t believe how many downvotes I received for this post. It’s ridiculous to believe training at altitude would result in a 20 second improvement for 5K. If Blanks was at altitude, do think he would be at 12:43 and if Young lived at sea level, his PR would be 13:31?
It’s a no-brainer to stay with what works for her. I doubt if a pro coach is as stupid as you think. Her stride has probably already analyzed by the best in the business and I doubt if changes can be made for her to do more running.
If Florida coach Palmer knows how to maximize her performance, what make you think coach Ritz or Smith or Bowerman or addidas or Tinmen elite or any pro team's coaching staff wouldn't know how to do the same? Agree NCAA works for her and if the goal is to break 14:00 5k, NCAA is the best yr1 and 2 of a 10 year pan to break 14:00.
I don’t think she’ll ever run 14:00. She would have to have either 3:55 speed or the strength to run under 1:03 for the HM. Like any other runner, she won’t improve much after age 25.
Nobody thinks that Nico young (or any of the Newbury park runners) or Graham blanks would be 20 seconds faster / slower if at altitude or not. Moran
The poster, Jack Ruby, made the claim that Valby could gain 20 seconds from altitude training. Thinking she could do it doesn’t make him a moron (it’s no longer cool on LR to use an “a”)?
Valby has received huge offers from every company you can imagine. Her only problem is deciding which one to go with. Nike told her dad that Nike believes she will revolutionize running. Nike new since last year that Parker's potential is greater than Katelyn's. We are seeing that play out live.
Go to 45:25 of the podcast. It’s a long story, but people convinced her that they were the government and kept her on the phone for over 7hrs.
Parker strikes me as someone with sweet and goofy energy but lacking in the wisdom to go along with her intelligence. For a real contrast, I'd recommend listening to her Running Effect interview, followed by the Gabby Thomas one that posted last week. Parker's a fun young woman who I'd have been madly in love with 30 years ago, whereas Gabby would've laughed at my paltry intellect and lack of life goals at that age.
Parker's someone who will likely develop more common sense based on her life experiences, but for now, I wouldn't trust her to get to the bank with the deposit alone (she'd probably give it to away to the nice woman whose friends dumped her in a strange city with no money or way to get home and just needs bus fare). BTW Parker's not the first person who got taken by a scammer - my way-too-old-to-fall-for-scams Uncle paid a few hundred to 'Microsoft Tech Support' before his wife realized what he was doing. I also had a junior IT auditor working for me who bought $1,500 worth of Target gift cards because our "CEO" told him to do it via email - he is no longer an IT auditor so that's one good thing to come from it.
It would be pretty hard for this year at UF to be stagnant for Valby. She was a dominant NCAA xc runner, undefeated and first time national xc champion, setting numerous course records. Then she began track season with an NCAA 5000m women's record in 14:56, looking like she was in a tempo run.
"Just embracing the process" Valby says that these days, she is laser-focused on doing her best at the NCAA. Being a part of a Florida program which has become one of the nation’s powerhouses under the leadership of Mike Holloway is clearly of paramount importance to her. She says she’s not really thinking ahead to the Olympic Trials yet. “I’m just taking it a day at a time and whatever happens, happens.” But once Valby leaves the Gators, a whole world of running opportunities is open to her. “It’s all still very new to me,” she says. “I’m still amazed by the idea that I would be able to run after college. The sky’s the limit, just to see what I’m capable of, just to be the best me that I could be.”
Thank you for posting the T&F News link. Valby is level-headed and has things in good perspective. I recall after one of her race with Tuohy that Valby commented in an interview that Tuohy is not only a great runner but also a great person. Mutual respect among competitors and humility are great attributes.
Odd statement. Tuohy has been injured more over the past 3 years than Valby has. Valby us faster too. I guess Tuohy will never make it as a pro according to you. I think both will be fine. You should be more optimistic.
This is a lot of hype for someone who while fast, hasn't actually raced a national caliber pro better than Katelyn Tuohy who is a second tier 5000m runner within the US. Valby has never raced at senior nationals, has not attended an actual track meet with pros besides a BU time trial, and shown no inclination to seek out a competitive race outside of her preferred distance of 5000m or cross country. The one exception was last winter she raced a 3000 at BU and was 9 seconds back of Emily McKay and Val Constein. She wasn't even the top SEC runner in that race.
Wake me up if she decides to race against someone who might beat her again, either shorter than 5000m in the NCAA or against some actual pros.
There is not nearly enough hype for the fastest runner in history to have run in the NCAA. Not just the fastest American, but the fastest, period. She is faster than Monson or Schweizer or Houlihan or Coburn or Kelati or Tuohy Simpson. She is way underhyped.
Valby has received huge offers from every company you can imagine. Her only problem is deciding which one to go with. Nike told her dad that Nike believes she will revolutionize running. Nike new since last year that Parker's potential is greater than Katelyn's. We are seeing that play out live.