Men's Marathon Trials to Be Held on Sunday on Traditional NYC Course

Cool. 'bout time.

This will be a great stage on which US marathoners can perform. I like the fact that it will be 9 months prior to the Olympic race which allows for ample recovery time and build-up. Now hopefully none of the top 3 then run a spring marathon.

9 months prior. No more like a year. It sucks for men who are just trying to make it to the trials. It is good for the guys who are trying to make the top three. The barely 2:22 guys lose another chance just to get in. Like chicago in the fall of 07. Now really how many chances do you get?

I will make the marathon trials if it kills me. I need this.

it would be amazing to see the trials during the ing marathon

If this was not a submitted bid, then it is unethical as hell. You can't alter your bid after the fact. Although it sounds about right.

Awesome news that the top three will have about 10 months to recover and prepare, rather than the usual 6 or so months. But why not just run it as part of the real NYC marathon? No reason not to do that and it might make for a more competitve race.

It should start later and be on national tv. The trials is for the top 3, not the 2:22 guys. It is much more important to give them time to recover and get ready than it is to givfe some 2:22 guy another shot at a faster time.

The way US Marathoning is going, this should be a great race.

There were no bids that were submitted that weren't on a criterium course? I am not for or against a criterium but when comparing New York to other cities we were told that was a guarantee. Is the prize money the same as the bid said or can that be changed as well? Why even have a bid process? I guess that it is true that New York will call the shots and Latimer Finke and Estes will follow.

Why not hold the trials 2 years beforehand and give the guys 2 years to recover and prepare? Why not 3 years? If the trials was purely about the athletes it would be held in the spring, but it's more about media and money so is will be held in NYC.

Alan

the most intelligent thing Alan has ever said on this board! Congrats Alan...this is a banner day.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Why not hold the trials 2 years beforehand and give the guys 2 years to recover and prepare? Why not 3 years? If the trials was purely about the athletes it would be held in the spring, but it's more about media and money so is will be held in NYC.

Alan

I believe that the US was the only country to earn 2 medals in Athens in the marathon. Our Solution.........Lets change things. Stupid idiots.

6 months from the date of the Trials to the Olympic event should be fine.

Joan Benoit needed less than 3 months to seal the deal.

It is not a coincidence that Ritz is running NYC this year. I'd think they signed on with NYC knowing that it would be the same course as the Olympic Trials.

Yankees suck wrote:

Awesome news that the top three will have about 10 months to recover and prepare, rather than the usual 6 or so months. But why not just run it as part of the real NYC marathon? No reason not to do that and it might make for a more competitve race.

This will give them time to recover and go after a solid track season.

Looks like I have a legitimate shot at being the top American at Chicago in 2007.

MarathonMind wrote:

6 months from the date of the Trials to the Olympic event should be fine.

Joan Benoit needed less than 3 months to seal the deal.

Exactly my point. For the women it works out fine if Boston is selected. Since we started having a single race trials in the '60s I believe only ONCE has it not been held in the winter/spring.

Mark Conover won the '88 Trials in 2:12 (5th best winning time EVER..faster than '92, '96, and 2000 winners) in only his second marathon. He qualified with a 2:18 at the '87 CIM. He's the same type of qualifer that some on this board think shouldn't matter. If the trials had been held in the fall instead of the spring Conover would not have been there.

Alan

Isn't that the same situation with Trent Briney last Olympic year. He qualified at Chicago with a 2:21.xx then comes back at runs 2:12. Would he have ever qualified if the trials were moved up like this?

Scratch that...according to dyestat of all places:

http://www.dyestatcal.com/news/tr2004/2-Feb04/07MarGde.htm

The trials race, since we went to a single selection race in '68, has NEVER repeat NEVER been held in the fall. Earliest has been February, latest has been August.

Like I said, this is for the media and the money, not the athletes. I really don't have anything wrong with that provided everyone acknowledges it and doesn't put forth this load of drivel saying "it's so they can recover and prepare". Pure, utter, B.S.

Alan