Molly Huddle article on Slate - She flew middle seat to ATL and raced in flats that were worn down

The conversation on the shoes is another very revealing example of the complete disruption of the shoe industry for non Nike sponsored athletes. Even in the pre vaporfly era, if you've never gone into a race not knowing what shoes you're going to wear, you haven't been racing long enough.

And really? Criticizing someone for their choice of airline seat? She's a professional runner nearing the end of her career, not a millionaire.

Lay off losers.

Let's not forget, both her and Sisson trained in Phoenix for this marathon build. Completely flat training, mostly along the canal. How could the expect to handle the incredibly challenging hills of Atlanta only training on flat dirt.

Say what you want about altitude training, I don't knock them for not doing that. But they did not put themselves in a position to perform well.

Hindsight is always 2020

EESS wrote:

The conversation on the shoes is another very revealing example of the complete disruption of the shoe industry for non Nike sponsored athletes. Even in the pre vaporfly era, if you've never gone into a race not knowing what shoes you're going to wear, you haven't been racing long enough.

Correct. I mean if I'm Huddle, I'd probably still wear the damn new shoes in the race (but not in training) even if they did injure me. A 2.2% boost is too much to give up.

But what none of the articles say is, "Did she also test in the Vaporflys or the other brand's versions?" Is the injury response similar in all shoes? If not, it's even more of a no-brainer.

If Huddle felt strongly enough to essentially blame Saucony for her less than expected performance, then she should just drop Saucony and move to Nike. I'm quite sure Nike would have several pairs of shoes ready for her.

Really, you only need a few runs in a new shoe to know whether it's going to work for you and if your feet feel OK.

rojo wrote:

EESS wrote:

The conversation on the shoes is another very revealing example of the complete disruption of the shoe industry for non Nike sponsored athletes. Even in the pre vaporfly era, if you've never gone into a race not knowing what shoes you're going to wear, you haven't been racing long enough.

Correct. I mean if I'm Huddle, I'd probably still wear the damn new shoes in the race (but not in training) even if they did injure me. A 2.2% boost is too much to give up.

But what none of the articles say is, "Did she also test in the Vaporflys or the other brand's versions?" Is the injury response similar in all shoes? If not, it's even more of a no-brainer.

Rojo taking a break from criticizing black people to criticize women

Athletes that are this careless when it comes to details that matter for performance usually don't make it to the Olympics.

She had an ankle injury in training causing her to lack fitness.

I doubt these two details mattered much, beyond not wearing super-shoes.

She probably would not have made the team either way (because of the injury).

My top choice for the 10k if she has come out of the marathon healthy.

On second thought, this might be Molly's just got old moment as she was overtaken by another Notre Dame alum.

Now Huddle has to decide what she wants to do for the rest of her career

https://g.co/kgs/dzHQ9K

Will she wear the spikes she had in high school?

rojo wrote:

EESS wrote:

The conversation on the shoes is another very revealing example of the complete disruption of the shoe industry for non Nike sponsored athletes. Even in the pre vaporfly era, if you've never gone into a race not knowing what shoes you're going to wear, you haven't been racing long enough.

Correct. I mean if I'm Huddle, I'd probably still wear the damn new shoes in the race (but not in training) even if they did injure me. A 2.2% boost is too much to give up.

But what none of the articles say is, "Did she also test in the Vaporflys or the other brand's versions?" Is the injury response similar in all shoes? If not, it's even more of a no-brainer.

Good question. But then at what point do you have to worry about the 'damn training'? Herein lies the conundrum for non-Nike athletes, especially older ones like Huddle who have years of pre vaporfly training and racing experience. How much time can one devote during a serious training block towards trying new shoes? You want the right shoe, however, you don't want the search for the perfect shoe to detract from your training and ultimately your race.

Let's just keep in mind, the details being pointed out here are just of interest to us—she is NOT using them as an excuse, just pointing out details as a journey through coronavirus awareness.

I think the point is a lot of the general public don't see what the big deal is in canceling the Olympics, but for professional athletes whose hallmark events in its most elite form take place at the Olympics, it's their whole life. And like anything else in life with uncertain factors involved, you just have to try your best to prepare yourself for what is likely and unlikely. And she's being a trooper.

As a slow, age group runner.. when I find a shoe I like, I run out and buy at least one more pair, if not two, just in case. How in the world a pro runner, who even has a dedicated model shoe for herself, doesn't have a crate full of these in her garage.

Imagine if Lewis Hamilton showed up at the Formula 1 race this weekend without a helmet.

Update : The best action for elite runners to Follow what Rupp does for Social Media / Blog posts . This would avoid the above inaccurate statements .

JustGonna SayIt wrote:

As a slow, age group runner.. when I find a shoe I like, I run out and buy at least one more pair, if not two, just in case. How in the world a pro runner, who even has a dedicated model shoe for herself, doesn't have a crate full of these in her garage.

Imagine if Lewis Hamilton showed up at the Formula 1 race this weekend without a helmet.

You want her to take a crate full of shoes with her to her away-from-home training spots, too?

Mercedes-Benz F1 budget last year was $484 million.

Saucony's entire gross revenue (not profit, not sponsored athlete budget...all money they brought in) was only $575 million.

Not the same resource backing.

(Even so, I could also see Lewis Hamilton having to wear an 'old' helmet one week because the new one was delayed.)

And again, all of you seem to be complaining about this more on her behalf than she does in the article herself. It was a minor aside in how I read it. Bunch of Princess and the Peas around here.

bojack wrote:

Let's not forget, both her and Sisson trained in Phoenix for this marathon build. Completely flat training, mostly along the canal. How could the expect to handle the incredibly challenging hills of Atlanta only training on flat dirt.

Say what you want about altitude training, I don't knock them for not doing that. But they did not put themselves in a position to perform well.

Hindsight is always 2020

HUH??? Oddly Desi trained in Phoenix for a good bit and won the Boston Marathon.....there are a ton of hills in Phoenix and plenty of places to get in both shorter and longer hills. Tons of elites train in Phoenix (as well as get worked on by Dr Ball) and it is an amazing place to train with soft dirt canals if needed, lots of decent tracks, and yes - plenty of hills for great workouts for hilly races.

So Rojo finds another opportunity for a stealthy Nike ad. Do you realize you're vigorously plugging these guys even though you seem not to like them? One can point out that all these various pros are contractually obligated NOT to wear them. True, but Rupp and the entire Scott Simmons Brigade is contractually obligated TO wear them. How many of the lead pack in London could wear something else without (for the individual Kenyan) dire financial consequences? What would they wear if no financial obligations existed AND they each had tried everything out there? One may point out that non-sponsored Americans all wear Nike. That's been continuously true for decades now prior to THE SHOES coming into existence. What did Riley wear 3 years ago? Could it be a Nike that is laughably bad compared to what they have now - but also when compared to what Saucony has now?

Now, in Rojo's defense (because I suspect I agree with him on most things including dislike and distrust of Nike. Just not ALL things like their shoes are SO MUCH better than everyone else's that it is professionally foolish to compete for your livelihood in anything else. I also dig the writing, podcasts, and site in general.)

It is absolutely OK to criticize women. Criticism of men is accepted and, in fact, expected from media including professional sports reporters. In fact, pointing out mistakes, gaff, mispoken statements, or mundane stuff like tactical errors and overtraining by male athletes who want and seek publicity is NEVER met with. '...and now he uses this chance to personally berate a man.....'

I regularly criticize and in general talk smack about women. Men too, but since that is not considered controversial......

rojo wrote:

EESS wrote:

The conversation on the shoes is another very revealing example of the complete disruption of the shoe industry for non Nike sponsored athletes. Even in the pre vaporfly era, if you've never gone into a race not knowing what shoes you're going to wear, you haven't been racing long enough.

Correct. I mean if I'm Huddle, I'd probably still wear the damn new shoes in the race (but not in training) even if they did injure me. A 2.2% boost is too much to give up.

But what none of the articles say is, "Did she also test in the Vaporflys or the other brand's versions?" Is the injury response similar in all shoes? If not, it's even more of a no-brainer.

Señor Rojo, “still wear the damn new shoes in the race even if they did injure me” doesn’t make sense. Why would an athlete want to get injured? When an athlete gets injured a lot of things can delay recovery and recovery is not guaranteed for a specific period of time. It can actually ruin the prospects of future competition and add additional financial distress on the athlete. Are you serious?

How could Saucony allow their best runner not to have her ideal shoe. It shouldn't matter what is going on in a factory in China. Nike never would have let this happen to Galen or any other of their star athletes.

this whole article disturbs me

why is US's top female distance talent [arguably] travelling/living like a vagabond?

Whose fault is this? Can I just venmno her some cash?