Going to be hot in LA on Sunday

Another hot weather disliker wrote:

I hope I'm wrong, but I expect this is bad news for Ryan Hall. He's not a hot weather runner.

The trials will be in February in 2016, so at least that increases the odds for decent weather for next year.

Has he had a history of running poorly in the heat? His 2011 Chicago comes to mind where he still ran 2:08 in weather that looks similar to this Sunday.

Seeing the times listed for some of the other contenders reminds me once again of the strange and continuing time warp that seems to be U.S. mens marathoning. We've had a nice handful of truly world class (competitively and time-wise) mid- and distance runners for some time now, but the marathon seems to lag SO far behind. I imagine a national class runner from the late 70's or early 80's waking up from a LONG coma and reading this story, right after learning that the WR is now sub-2:03. He'd have to think that there were typos in the times, right? You don't really mean that mid-2-teens runners (kinda ho-hum times in 1978) are competitive for national championships (EVEN in a weakish, non-major marathon) in 2:02:57-2015, right? It must take more like a 2:08 or 2:09 (just a mile behind the WR holder) to be in such a story these days, right? Weird.

trials are going to be 1 month earlier

He's had a poor history of finishing races in the past 3? years

As this is the USATF championship, do the top finishes get some type of 'bye' into the Oly marathon trials?

It would have been a great way to attract the top runners, if say, the top 15 finishers received a trials spot.

it is strange since US distance running is pretty competitive at every distance except the marathon. I'm not sure why - some of it is just luck - it only takes 1-2 guys to get us to the front...and if those two don't show up for whatever reason, it can just be unlucky.

but really - this can all change in a year - if Rupp, Meb, Hall and maybe one other guy run in the 2:07/2:08 zone, suddenly we're competitive again. I mean, Chez could become a citizen and suddenly we have a 2:05 guy, probably. Chez is apparently running 60 mpw...imagine what he could do at 120.

It just seems as though most of these guys and girls (other than Meb and Shalane) have one or maybe two very good marathons and are hyped to being the next best thing in U.S. marathoning, only to end up getting injured or never running to that potential again.

Quizical... wrote:

It just seems as though most of these guys and girls (other than Meb and Shalane) have one or maybe two very good marathons and are hyped to being the next best thing in U.S. marathoning, only to end up getting injured or never running to that potential again.

Why USATF won't let the distance runners gear up on EPO like some other countries dominating distance running with a parade of elite athletes is a mystery.

They have no problem allegedly hiding positives at International-level Track and Field, yet will not allegedly do the same for distance runners.

I ran an la marathon in 90 degrees. Reached half in 1:30, which was too fast for me under any condition. I walked miles 18 and 22. Finished in 3:30ish I believe

1) Ches has not run anything close to a marathon. The fact that he's running 60mpw (you heard? Source?) means that it works for him right now, but more is not always better.

2) good track runners or half m runners don't always make good marathoners. Ask Zersenay Tadese, Matt Llano (for now at least), Lauren Fleshman, etc.

3) Bekele runs 2:05 with his good track background. Is Ches a Bekele?

Sure, Ches might run well at the marathon eventually, but till he does, saying "he's DEFINITELY going to run 2:05" is frankly quite disrespectful to the marathoners who have actually done it and know what it takes.

What does any of this jibberish have to do with it being hot in LA this weekend?

ryguydontdonoheat wrote:

His DNF chances have tripled.

3 X infinity is still infinity