The depth in Valencia is ridiculous: 25 men under 2:08, 35 under 2:10, 44 under 2:12. Plus there are some real studs running, from 2:02 man Birhanu Legese and Boston/Chicago champ Lawrence Cherono to NYC champ Joyciline Jepkosgei and World Half champ Peres Jepchirchir. *MB: Are you ready for the DEEPEST marathon EVER? Sunday's Valencia Marathon is laughably good.

Besides Linden, other past Boston winners include Yuki Kawauchi, Edna Kiplagat, Geoffrey Kirui, Caroline Rotich and Lelisa Desisa.

The pros weighed in on bouncing back from Worlds, chasing the course record (or not), and (of course) the Nike Vaporflys.

NYC's elite men's field isn't deep at all, but with Geoffrey Kamworor coming in off a half marathon WR, Lelisa Desisa chasing an unprecedented Worlds/NYC double, and Jared Ward entering in terrific shape, the men's race should still be a good one.

Desisa won the World Champs to become the first man to win Boston, NY and Worlds.

From #16 to #1, we've broken down the potential winners of the 2019 Boston Marathon into five categories: Basically No Shot (#14-16), Outside Shots (#9-13), The Wild Card (#8), Genuine Contenders (#4-7), and Three Total Studs (#3-2-1). Sorry Yuki Kawauchi fans, but he's basically got no shot of repeating.

US fans, we hope you are free to watch these races on Thursday night (9:45 pm ET) as they are LOADED. In the women's race, Peres Jepchirchir returns to action for the first time since setting the 13.1 WR two years ago while the men's race features 5 young studs all 21 or younger plus Julien Wanders.

Other notables include former Boston champions Lemi Berhanu, Wesley Korir, 2:04 man Lawrence Cherono, 2015 World champ Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, former half-marathon WR holder Zersenay Tadese, 2015 World champ Mare Dibba and 2:19 woman Worknesh Degefa.

The unparalleled Eliud Kipchoge tops the marathon rankings yet again.

Only twice in the history of New York has an Ethiopan man won in New York, that's likely to change on Sunday unless Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor can defend his title.

An American-born man hasn't won the Boston Marathon since 1983. Galen Rupp enters Monday's race in the form of his life, but will that be enough as the men's field is a lot more difficult to win this year than last?

Are you ready for some incredible, free prime-time half-marathon action? We hope as as Thurday's night RAK Half is going to be insane. Watch it live on LetsRun at 9:45 pm ET.

Bedan Karoki returns to defend his title against 27:09 10K man Guye Adola, two-time Boston champ Lelisa Desisa and world indoor bronze medalist Augustine Choge.

The 24-year old Geoffrey Kamworor had accomplished an awful lot in his young career but he'd never won a marathon until today.

We also spoke with top women Mary Keitany (focused on the win, not the course record), Edna Kiplagat, and Betsy Saina ("redebuting" under new coach Patrick Sang following her DNF in Tokyo) as well as Geoffrey Kamworor & defending men's champ Ghirmay Ghebreslassie.

Which of the following 5 men will win NY on Sunday - Wilson Kipsang, Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Lelisa Desisa, Lemi Berhanu, or Geoffrey Kamworor?

While he didn't break 2:00:00, Eliud Kipchoge showed why he's the greatest marathoner in history.