NOP Skeptic wrote:
Cain is NOT a 6k XC type... Was she in HS, YES, but now? No...
What I'm really confused about is, it seems like ever since Alberto started training her, her endurance has lacked...
I think he's emphasized speed so much to the point where her aerobic threshold at certain distance have been lacking...
She's starting to turn more into a speed based 1500m runner, while Cranny seems to be more of the endurance based 1500m runner...
Tbh, I don't think she would have beat Cranny at this past NCAA's; I think she would have started out towards to the front like Dominique Scott did when Avery started to break, but then she would have faded off the back...
All 1500m runners are "speed based". Matter of fact, all RACES are speed based. Cain has gobs of it. And almost as much aerobic fitness. That's why she's a world class 800/1500 runner. However, one's aerobic fitness doesn't magically stop there and without tons of aerobic fitness you can't run a world class 1500; it's just not possible.
A 4:20 1500 runner vs. a 4:01 1500 runner is akin to a 3:50 1500 runner vs. a 3:33 1500 runner. Do you honestly think that 3:50 1500 runner has any chance over 6K vs. the 3:33 guy? If any, it's exceptionally slim. Cain wins in a landslide.