Deep field at New Haven 20k. Predictions?

Returning to form, in good health having bagged some useful experience of late......Look for #12 to pull a surprise/impress with a good performance with a real shot at winning.....it is time for that Q dog to lick the bowl and mark some territory. It has taken some time but US distance running is growing in depth, great to see it, should be a great race. Hope the weather cooperates. good luck and sure footing to all! Looking forward to this one.

45fgb wrote:

Trafeh will win since they do not drug test and then go race a weekend 10k after that since none of the major marathons will tough him. good luck with that mo

New Haven will test.

Go Amy Hastings! Should be an awesome race both mens' and womens'!

Writing from a block away from the 11 mile point...

Gently rolling hills is kind of an overstatement.

Quarter mile of a hill before mile 2.

Overpass/bridge hill near I 95 around mile 5 after 2 miles of absolute pancake flatness. Then another 4 miles of flatness until a few bumps at miles 9 and 10.

flat all the way in from 10.5 to the end.

What about Ali Ramurdicinhim? I hear he has had a great summer.

Brett Gotcher and Magdalena Lewy Boulet for the wins.

NewHavener wrote:

Writing from a block away from the 11 mile point...

Gently rolling hills is kind of an overstatement.

Quarter mile of a hill before mile 2.

Overpass/bridge hill near I 95 around mile 5 after 2 miles of absolute pancake flatness. Then another 4 miles of flatness until a few bumps at miles 9 and 10.

flat all the way in from 10.5 to the end.

Thank you.

Yes, I've run "pancake flat courses" and New Haven isn't pancake flat....it's just flat.

I had plans on running it but I won't be anymore due to some training setbacks. If anyone is interested in getting a number last minute I'm willing to sell mine for $25 (opposed to the 45$ entry).

Email me and we can work something out.

~John

NewHavener wrote:

Writing from a block away from the 11 mile point...

Gently rolling hills is kind of an overstatement.

Quarter mile of a hill before mile 2.

Overpass/bridge hill near I 95 around mile 5 after 2 miles of absolute pancake flatness. Then another 4 miles of flatness until a few bumps at miles 9 and 10.

flat all the way in from 10.5 to the end.

ray L wrote:Thank you.

Yes, I've run "pancake flat courses" and New Haven isn't pancake flat....it's just flat.

Well then, based on your views the New York City (1472 ft.) and Twin Cities (1384 ft.) Marathons must be flat or pancake flat, but we all know that's not true. 918 ft. of elevation change for a 20K is most definitely gently rolling.

This is flat/pancake flat:

The course is flat! There is a hill at 2miles and one at 9.5/10, the first hill can't be more than a quarter mile the second is gradual maybe a little longer (there is a bump before the hill in East Rock Park near 9mi). There is an incline around mile 5 very short, but i would not call it a hill. This is not a rolling course. I may actually be running around your pace if I feel ok, I'm getting over a chest cold.

I don't know what course you run, but you can just about see the 5 mile mark from the top of the hill at 2 miles. ET Grasso Blvd is as straight and flat as it gets! The is an incline at 5mile, lasting about 200m. Once you crest the hill in East Rock Park around 10mi, it is perfectly flat to the finish on Whitney Ave. Long Wharf (along the harbor 5.5-7) again flat...?

These fields (both mens & womens) look strong and deep.

A month ago they had the US 10 mile champs (Bobby Crim 10M) in Flint, MI. I was surprised at the lack of depth in that race (for a national champs).

Anyone care to comment on that?

Master G wrote:

I don't know what course you run, but you can just about see the 5 mile mark from the top of the hill at 2 miles. ET Grasso Blvd is as straight and flat as it gets! The is an incline at 5mile, lasting about 200m. Once you crest the hill in East Rock Park around 10mi, it is perfectly flat to the finish on Whitney Ave. Long Wharf (along the harbor 5.5-7) again flat...?

Bud, click on the elevation profile map in the link I provided. Again, not a flat course. 918 ft. of elevation change.

Many USA runners took breaks after track nationals or were in in Europe. New Haven sets up nicely for the fall marathon season.

Also, who on earth wants to spend a weekend in Flint, Michigan?

gently rolling wrote:

Bud, click on the elevation profile map in the link I provided. Again, not a flat course. 918 ft. of elevation change.

Yes 918 means it's counting all the up and all of the downs over the course of 20k. Have you run it? ITS FLAT and FAST.

You've got a couple of small hills in the park at about 10 miles, and they don't even slow you down.

Have you ever been New Haven? I have been to both Flint and New Haven and I would rather stay a weekend in Flint.

malmo wrote:

Yes 918 means it's counting all the up and all of the downs over the course of 20k. Have you run it? ITS FLAT and FAST.

You've got a couple of small hills in the park at about 10 miles, and they don't even slow you down.

Must I repeat myself? Yes I have run it, and I live in a hilly area and have spent two training stints in the mountains at 8,000ft.-11,000ft.. It's fast because the whole course is gently rolling with a few climbs, so it helps you maintain momentum and not beat up your legs. 918 ft. of elevation change, 449 ft. of climbing, technically making it hillier than the NYC marathon with 1472 ft. of elevation change over 26.2 miles.

Because you are right. It has flat parts but the hills at mile 9-10 do slow people down - except malmo, who goes faster there. I have seen it...

I'm going to throw out the fact that there may be a mistake in the profile? I've run New York a few times and New Haven maybe 20 times. New Haven is much flatter.....just sayin'