run more not less wrote:
Yes that is what it is. She is showcasing her 15:30 fitness. This is a 17 year old girl that we all should be excited about for her future. Not another high school girl could complete this workout.
Anyone who hasn't run 15:30, is not showcasing 15:30. There was an option - to run 5k in 15:30, with the VF on the same course (2 U-turns).
People here don't criticize the girl. She is doing what her coach prescribes her. We are just saying this workout serves no purpose.
She needs speed and threshold, not VO2MAX/lactate tolerance workout. Her 3k and 5k are MUCH better than her 800 and Mile.
Classic Tinman workout would have been 5-6x1 Mile @5:20-5:30 (whatever her threshold is), followed by 5x200 in 34-35. That way she would lower her threshold and also gain leg strength, to improve her 2:18/4:50.
What did Tuohy do on her workout Wednesday? One time she did 6x1k @3:18 (~5:15/mi), around the time she ran 15:37 as sophomore. Another time, as senior she did 4xMile from 5:35 to 5:25 followed by a 400 and 200 (72/34). Few months after, she became NXN XC champion.
Again - if she wants to show her fitness or do something hard, she should do what everyone else is doing right now - a TIME TRIAL. Anything else should aim to optimize fitness, without neglecting her weaknesses, which seems to be basic speed atm (and this is best improved at young age).