Thweatt won't run marathon trials because

The 1980's ended a few decades ago. Folks don't race much these days.

In the 60s & 70s the marathon trials were the same time as the track trials. I know a guy that ran the 10k trials, then the marathon, then came back for the 10k final.

Thweatt needs to run the trials. If she's not having a good day at 25K or 30K, just DNF. No biggie. But she's got to be a strong fav to punch her ticket to Rio in L.A.

Give it time....I think Mr. Troop may reconsider.

She only has the "problem" of 3 marathons in 10 months if she makes the Olympic team.

No appearance fees at Trials. Boston would pay to have a strong American runner ready to tackle a more diluted African field

Yeah, this is just ridiculous. She is an obvious threat to make the marathon team, possibly even a shoe-in for the third spot, and he wants her to keep toiling away at the 10k, which is clearly just a stepping stone on her way to her true calling, not to mention a distance track fans don't care about anymore.

Star wrote:

She only has the "problem" of 3 marathons in 10 months if she makes the Olympic team.

^This.

Do any of you see her making the 10k team?

They seem to have a well-thought-out plan which is working very well so far. No need to second-guess. I wonder if she would do a fall 2016 marathon, especially if the 10000 doesn't pan out.

That said, I think she is uniquely suited to the NYCM course. She might not be quite as competitive on a faster course (minor point).

Michael Sandrock ( Buffzone ):

"Running well at New York would be a nice bookend to Thweatt's year, one that began Feb. 7 on Flatirons' fairways with a victory at the 2015 USA cross country national championships. It was the biggest win yet for the Colorado native, who had best finishes of second in cross country and the 2-mile at Durango High School, followed by a solid, not spectacular, CU career.

That day in February, Thweatt was smooth and strong in pulling away from the senior women's field on the third of the four-lap 8K course. She seemed set for a breakout summer on the track.

A foot injury, however, slowed her training and racing, and after placing 29th at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in China in March, Thweatt took a break, watching from the sidelines, unable to attempt to make the team for August's World Track and Field Championships.

That left her and her coach, Lee Troop, hungry to end the year on the upswing. That is where New York comes in.

"I told Laura, 'We could do something similar to years past, or we could change it up and run the marathon,' " said Troop, a three-time Olympian. "New York is something different, to challenge her."

She was born at 6,500 feet and lived most of her life at altitude. Maybe she should go to sea level to work on her short speed.

Not running the marathon trials would be. Terrible decision. Even if she doesn't make the team there is time to train for a fast 10k in April or May to get the oly standard

As a member of the Boulder Track Club for several years, I believe Lee and Laura are making the right decision. For someone that just ran their first marathon, it is not the best idea to continue intense marathon training with a relatively short turn around, 3 months, and then continue to train for several more months for the Olympics. Again, for a first time marathoner, that is a tremendous amount of stress on the body that she is not used to. Lee wants her around for the next 10 years. It would be a shame to over work her for this one shot at the marathon spot while 10k is a distance she does well at.

Of course everyone is going to have different opinions. That is what makes this sport great. They obviously have a plan and let's respect their decision.

Poor decision, the 10k is going to be a lot deeper than the marathon. She'll have to compete against Huddle, Infeld, Hasay, Sisson, and Conley. Quite frankly I can't see her beating three of those women.

BTC wrote:

As a member of the Boulder Track Club for several years, I believe Lee and Laura are making the right decision. For someone that just ran their first marathon, it is not the best idea to continue intense marathon training with a relatively short turn around...

If the 26.2 Trials were not in the cards, then it was a REALLY bad decision to race NYC, going into an Olympic year.

The risky switch in training & the race itself, plus needed recovery- all brand new to her going into an Olympic year?? And she wasn't going to race the Trials 26.2?? Not a good reason to do it.

Great decision.

Sell your soul for an Olympic team can destroy a career.

She has long term potential.

She runs on the track and signs a six figure contract to run NY again next year. If she runs the trials and makes the team she can not get paid until Spring 2017 and then will have gone 2 years of only running the marathon.

I am not going to run the marathon trials either.

BTC wrote:

it is not the best idea to continue intense marathon training with a relatively short turn around, 3 months, and then continue to train for several more months for the Olympics.

First of all, her coach said she wasn't doing regular marathon training, but just doing a few longer runs.

Regarding "intense marathon training," and kind of training, regardless of event needs to be balanced with recovery, so that shouldn't be an issue.

A 3 month period is plenty of time and is not a short turnaround.

Which leaves, 7 more months in between.

Troop da man wrote:

She runs on the track and signs a six figure contract to run NY again next year. If she runs the trials and makes the team she can not get paid until Spring 2017 and then will have gone 2 years of only running the marathon.

EXACTLY!

That is a valid reason, but not the others that were given.