Valby & Tuohy: Replacing XC with what?

No. It makes the case that too much competing hurts many runners. Tuohy has been on the decline for almost 1.5 years. She woukd have been better off going pro 2 years ago. Don't compete in the fall and get away from that college coach.

College seasons end around June.
Pro seasons end around August/September.
I imagine they will take a later rest and more time building a base.

Probably the same thing that seasoned pros do in the fall? Pumpkin spice.

This is a good answer. Last year, apart from Tuohy running the U.S. 5k final on July 9th, neither she nor Valby raced from June 10th to October 13th. So the same break between races would be like Tuohy opening up an indoor season around New Years (if yesterday was the last race of her season).

They will train. Maybe we’ll see one in a pro XC race/BU opener/Manchester Turkey Trot or something in November/December.

Are you kidding? XC is what made these two wonderful runners marketable. Look at the crowds they were drawing in XC versus the rinky dink "pro" track meets that no one cares about

Good joke. Valby is an Olympian. Tuohy was a good college runner. Yes XC helped Tuohy but Valby is off the charts at 21 as a track Olympian.

Growing up in Canada we were deeply skeptical of the US system. Lots of people wanted scholarships but we also heard the stories of coaches having you run 5k, 10k, and steeple at conference all for the points. My thought has always been NCAA works for the people or works for. Craig Virgin complained plenty about too many foreigners in the US college system but I have no doubt the experience helped him win World XC.

I think it’s a tremendous oversight that we have a fall campaign of races (all winter in Europe) that develops our best runners which is then abandoned by runners when they turn pro. I don’t think the current professional programs that choose to race so sporadically have got it right.

base training for indoor track, duh. Its possible Valby could race xc in Europe as her goal will probably be a 10k spot for worlds next year, but maybe we don't see her race again until like the 10 or something

This is the right answer, and also the right approach.

It's not about the number of races. Who says they have to run a half dozen races once out of college? Besides, most high level D1 programs don't run that many XC races anyway.

It would be about the training and a couple selected races. That would do what they need to build a base, add some variety to avoid staleness, and insert some extra overall athletic toughness that they aren't getting as well from countless road miles. Not to mention more varied racing experience that many lack.

I'd like to see OAC blitz the WA XC Tour in Oct-Nov. Ramsden, Markezich and new signee Valby with Robinson, Nuguse and McDonald/Beamish.

European xc doesn't really start till december. Indoor is usually end of Jan-Mar. There's a cross over. It's very difficult to do well at both

would love to see mcdonald show out in some pro xc races, he was lights out at xc in college

Can they not do park runs and turkey trot?

This is not to hate on XC (I actaully love the vibes and team atompshere and racing on some beautiful courses in the fall) but speaking pragmatically I think XC is unnesscary. I think you are better off just base building in the fall so you can run some fast times indoors and outdoors. Maybe add in a road race or 2 during the fall but that should be about it. Speaking from personal expreince as a mid distance guy, I feel significantly better post college when I am not beating myself for an extra season in the fall. You will also always run faster on a track so theres that too.

I'd vote for either the XC circuit or a focus on the 3000m indoors for Valby. She'd benefit from racing in races she isn't likely to win that will push her to improve tactics and respond to other racers making either strength moves in xc or dropping the pace in a 3000m that is hard for her to respond to. BU Timetrial in December, Millrose 3000m, and Indoor Nats. A short focused indoor season will help her grow as a racer, but keep her training focused on the 5000/10000.

Road races. USATF 5k in New York early November is what a good chunk of 5k/10k runners do. And in 2025 the world road championships will be in San Diego, there is a 5k team. I'm not sure what the qualification event is yet for that but it would be another meaningful racing opportunity. I don't think they need to do more than 2-3 races in the fall. Especially with 'pro' racing circuit going until right around now. September is a reset time period with time off and/or easy mileage and easy workouts, then October they're just really getting back into real training.

How about the 5th avenue mile?

Might be reasonable for Tuohy, but Valby isn't much of a miler. Most of the women running 5th ave are 4:05 or faster 1500 runners