She has a really different looking stride. I think the Arc Trainer is causing slightly different muscle development than actual running. It has served her well. Not sure if it’s good or bad. Just an observation.
Totally agree with you. It's almost as if she's floating on an arc trainer across the track. It seems like her cadence is a bit lower than the others, and her torso is also remarkably straight, whereas most have a bit of a forward lean. While it doesn't look very fluid or comfortable from the side, you see how relaxed and calm she is in her face (usually) and then realize it must be working for her.
But acquiring an ESP/Cranny level kick might mean some bigger changes in training, and I imagine some more robust strength work.
It's hard to know what it would look like without it, but yeah there's something unique about her stride. It seems like she can handle 71ish 400 pace just fine, but just slightly faster and her form starts to breakdown.
I love the fact that she's come so far and figured out a way to make it work for her despite her physical limitations.
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
Gidey can close a 10k in sub 4:00 for the last 1500… not even in the same wheelhouse
I’d actually be curious what the fastest 400 she can run is. Cranny and ESP closed in 62 last night. Not sure if Valby can do that all out.
People were throwing around that she was maybe in 14:30 shape with competition, but I don’t think she could run much faster than 14:50 *right now* because her legs are holding her back. I think she could probably run another couple laps at 71-72.
I agree that this might be where we find the limit of the arc trainer. If she is already going extremely hard on it for 90+ minutes on her easy days, there is only so much more she can squeeze out of it aerobically.
Over the next year or 2 she will most likely have to experiment with more running, but unfortunately that may come with injury. Or maybe just focus more on efficiency drills (she might already be doing this)
Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level
Metronome:
3:00.23
2:58.66
2:58.68
2:58.58
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
Gidey can close a 10k in sub 4:00 for the last 1500… not even in the same wheelhouse
The way Gidey runs appears similar but at a much higher level. So show me the data that said she closed 10k with a sub-4 for the last 1500. That is world class even for that distance. Probably equivalent to a man running 3:35-40 in a 10k race.
I’d actually be curious what the fastest 400 she can run is. Cranny and ESP closed in 62 last night. Not sure if Valby can do that all out.
People were throwing around that she was maybe in 14:30 shape with competition, but I don’t think she could run much faster than 14:50 *right now* because her legs are holding her back. I think she could probably run another couple laps at 71-72.
I agree that this might be where we find the limit of the arc trainer. If she is already going extremely hard on it for 90+ minutes on her easy days, there is only so much more she can squeeze out of it aerobically.
Over the next year or 2 she will most likely have to experiment with more running, but unfortunately that may come with injury. Or maybe just focus more on efficiency drills (she might already be doing this)
She ran to her limit. She didn't have another couple of laps in her.
Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level
Metronome:
3:00.23
2:58.66
2:58.68
2:58.58
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
The only way she wins front running at a national or international level is if she has the clear superiority that Ayana had over her competition, and the others couldn't stay with her. That won't happen. If they are with her in the last lap she will lose.
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
^This. Her arm carriage is also quite a bit wider than typical runners. This is a "learned" running form rather than a natural one. As for the speed/change of pace, she's going to have to work on it at some point, or else she's never going to win a major pro race.
Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level
Metronome:
3:00.23
2:58.66
2:58.68
2:58.58
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
Wow, and those extra 1.5 seconds on the first K are probably from the initial 100m jog she had to work her way around. I feel crazy saying this given her training, but I wonder if the marathon is where she belongs. Could she adapt her training to it?
Gidey can close a 10k in sub 4:00 for the last 1500… not even in the same wheelhouse
The way Gidey runs appears similar but at a much higher level. So show me the data that said she closed 10k with a sub-4 for the last 1500. That is world class even for that distance. Probably equivalent to a man running 3:35-40 in a 10k race.
She never did, poster probably mixed it up with the 2019 Doha 10k where Hassan closed in 3:59 and Gidey in 4:03. Also I agree that it's actually a pretty good comparison if you adjust for Gidey being world class. And since even Gidey somehow managed a 60s last lap when she won worlds in 2022 there might be some hope for Valby to improve on her kick too.
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
Wow, and those extra 1.5 seconds on the first K are probably from the initial 100m jog she had to work her way around. I feel crazy saying this given her training, but I wonder if the marathon is where she belongs. Could she adapt her training to it?
Wide arm carriage is a stiffness through the core/pelvis. It would make sense with the motion you get on an elliptical or arc trainer, where you don't get that same body rotation.
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
Gidey can close a 10k in sub 4:00 for the last 1500… not even in the same wheelhouse
I think she's more like Daniel Komen or Ayana, they're all metronomes.
It's amazing to me seeing athletes that seem to have no idea on how to run be some of the fastest in the country/world. Emily Infeld looks like she is just learning how to run with her form. Paula Radcliff was all over the place. Michael Johnson even, everyone always commented on his form. For those coaches out there still hyper-focused on form all the time, you need to move on.
She is quite a mechanical and almost wooden runner. She also seems to have no ability to change pace let alone kick. Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level but not it seems at a top national level. She reminds me of Gidey but as a lesser version, like a "mini me".
The comparison between Gidey and Valby are valid only to the point that they are not last lap kickers. By any other measure Gidey is streets ahead of Valby. I’ve noticed Valby runs with a very stiff neck and shoulders. She looks as if she is wearing an invisible neck brace. Her arm carriage is very stiff and deliberate, there seems to be a disconnect between her torso and legs. As for the legs, Gidey demonstrates a very flexible Psoas muscle and this is obvious in her long rangy and bouncy stride. Valby has no bounce to her turnover whatsoever.
Gidey is beauty in motion but fails to shorten her stride and increase her turnover when the sprint for home begins. This was something Tirunesh Dibaba was excellent at doing. Valbys running technique is streets behind.
Her ability to maintain her cadence in a metronomic fashion works for her at a collegiate and university level
Metronome:
3:00.23
2:58.66
2:58.68
2:58.58
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
My god, averaging 0.1 seconds difference per kilometer across the middle 3 1k's is insane.
If you can lead a 5000m for 4100m in 71s in 80 degree weather and finish in an Olympic qualifier 14:51, then you can definitely drop at least ten seconds with pacers and drafting (worth about 1/2s per lap=6 seconds) in ideal cool, dry weather (worth more than 6 seconds) for the 5k, so I think that she can get into the 14:30s this year. After that, she's going to have to be able to run more, adjust her stride to a forward lean, and improve leg strength for speed. But what a start for a U.S. collegian in this event! Our 14:20s-14:40s runners historically have all but one run in the 15s in college.
2:55.31 (while the top three ran about 2:44 to 2:48)
Yes, she'll have to be able to accelerate more at the end, but also yes, she was an absolute metronome in trying to cut the field down to three to make the team. She needed to shed one more runner and couldn't do it, but big props to her for trying.
My god, averaging 0.1 seconds difference per kilometer across the middle 3 1k's is insane.
She really impressed me last night. She broke some really good runners in Morgan, Buchalski, and Smith and she put herself in a position to be top 3 if one of the big 3 had a bad race. Even then, she still might be going because Elle has strongly hinted at only doing the 1,500 at the Olympics. She will need a kick, but she knows how to push the pace, keep the pace up, and make it hurt for her competitors.