Why is the Men's Olympic Trials Marathon on November 2nd, 2007?

You are actually not correct when you state that the park is open to traffic on weekdays. This entire summer only portions of the park have been open to traffic on a very limited schedule due to the city testing to see if it would be feasible to shut the park down to traffic permanently. I do not remember the exact time schedule etc. But even if there was traffic why would cops need to be present for traffic control on a Friday.

I am pretty sure the city would not allow cars in the park on that specific Friday during the actual race so there would be no need for polic presence. In addition I think even when cars are allowed in the park it is only during rush hour and I am sure they would just close the park if the race was held during any of those times.

And Joseph you keep forgetting the trials have SPONSORS exclusive from the marathon or NYRRC.

So the only added cost that this race would incur compared to club championships is a few cops to watch over the race for "crowd control". Even this added expense in the grand scheme of things is minimal and is most likely already covered by sponsors etc.

the park will be closed to traffic, but you will still need a cop and/or park ranger, more likely a cop and a car at every single vehicular park entrance to prohibit NY taxis from entering the park anyway.

the NYRR will probably get a fee from hosting the race and handling all the logistics but it's doubtful they'll make a penny with all the work that would have to go into, especially just 2 days before the biggest event of their year. They'll probably have to hire a lot of people just to do this, since so many people are working on the NYCM.

Okay so the park charges a fee for the use of the Park. I doubt this fee is so astronomical that sponsors and the USOC cant handle it. This is probably WAY cheaper than having a race in AL or some other place where the course is set up on streets and roads in a way less controlled environment than what Central Park allows.

There is going to be costs incurred NO MATTER where the race is held. Why is this even an arguement for NYRRC? POOR NYRRC for bidding on the race to host it. Give me a break. Most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Cops are an added layer of security / traffic control for the race. Just imagine if some yahoo on a bike or a gaggle of power walkers veered onto the course just as the lead pack was coming through.

It is NYC after all. What if some crazy like in Athens decided he didn't like Meb (not a native born 'Murican)and decided to disrupt his race? What if some protestors seized the opprtunity to make a statement of some sort by blocking the Trials course?

I think the Trials will merit more security than club champs IMHO.

Whatever costs the NYRR have to cover they'll be more than willing to for the prestige that comes from hosting the Trials. You can't put a price on an inflated ego.

Whatever the costs of this race is not an issue in this discussion. This was known when the host cities bid on the race.

This has to do with what is logically best for the athletes and YES this means all athletes under 2:22. I liked the post on here where it was stated if the 2:22 guy did not matter then the cut-off would be something else. Since the cut off is 2:22 then every athlete who runs under that time are deserving and should be considered worthy of being there.

The best situation for both men and women would have been the trials in Boston in April plain and simple. I don't even think that really needs to be debated. NYC won the bid because of politics. Its extremely evident that was the case.

People are correct, whoever hosts the trials is not doing it for the money, its for the exposure. Now Mary W. and NYRRC can walk around pounding their chests that they are the king of the world in terms of distance running and the top promotors of our sport at the expense of the guys running the trials! Its that simple.

This is stupid wrote:

People are correct, whoever hosts the trials is not doing it for the money, its for the exposure. Now Mary W. and NYRRC can walk around pounding their chests that they are the king of the world in terms of distance running and the top promotors of our sport at the expense of the guys running the trials! Its that simple.

We don't need any exposure in NY and there certainly hasn't been a lot of chest beating. NY is simply the best place to have the race if it is going to make it into the main stream. Every national news channel will at least show the 100's of thousands that are sure to be watching the race in a true global capitol and bring huge exposure to the sport.

Sub Elite, NYC is great and I have read your posts on your bprderline obsession with NYC. Unfortunately hate to break it to you but the same thing could have been accomplished with Boston considering Boston is one longest running and most well known marathon among mainstream America. There is no way to argue that no matter how SOPHISTICATED or whatever the hell else you say NYC is. By the way I also live in NYC and I still believe Boston would have been the best place hands down.

And I am not saying NYRRC will not do a great job providing exposure to the trials, it could have been done just as well in Boston with the same exposure with the athletes interest in mind.

NY sub elite wrote:

Watch, specatators in the tens of thousands will be cheering all the marathoners on as the navigate through the great canyons of our historic metropolis to new PR's. Any inconvienice in timing is trivial compared to the honor and media exposure you get running in NY.

highly doubtful dude. read this:

ambassador orange wrote:

That's a good point, if anything, the course and conditions probably should mimic Beijing.

I doubt they'll be much in the way of crowds, especially if it's a Friday. The NYC Marathon is an event to the avg NYer who will go out and watch, but outside of the serious running community most people will probably barely even know about the trials.

There are plenty of spring marathons in the US and Europe, so it's crazy to say you have to qualify this fall or never.

The conditions in Beijing are going to be hot.

The Beijing course is flat, flat, flat.

This is all too funny. You think a media blix of the Men's marathon trials are going to bring the sport to a level mainstream America where mainstream America will stop and take the time to watch this? No matter what you do to the trials, this will never reach the mainstream masses with much interest.

The people who follow the sport will be watching and really that is it. This is on Friday kids, you think the housewife will stop watching her soaps to tune in. Good god people, the only gain you get is maybe a few more bystanders in the park. That is it! This is not going to change the face of running!

I was in New York this past weekend and I was not even aware that the half marathon was going on until I came on this website. Running may be important to the NYRRC, but the city is uninterested. New York could care less about the trials. Publicity will be minimal. When I was in Birmingham Alabama to watch the trials, it was the most important thing in the city. Every restraunt and business in the city was aware of it. Do you think that will be the case in New York?

"This is on Friday kids"

No it is not - it is on Saturday - and the majority of the posts on this thread are inaccurate drivel.

Excellent point, the same people who did not get up to watch the half are going to be the same people who will not get up to watch the trials. To the masses the trials are no different than the half marathon run on Sunday. They have no clue who the top guys are in either race.

Just becuase it is the Olympic trials does not mean NYC will turn out in masses to watch. The typical NYer has no clue about running and it will NOT CHANGE.

So CPTC runner then set us straight, are you good enough to possibly qualify for the trials? Do you think the NYC race is better for the athlete who will be running the race?

Maybe some had the date wrong but you have no clue what is good for the 2:22 marathoner and below. How do I know this, well CPTC's best marathon is cant touch the 2:30s.

You are so wrong kid. You really don't know who you are writing to on this anonymous funfest!

And don't bother trying to bait me with "do tell us" lines. I'm not playing. You'll see just how wrong these "experts" are later.

You are telling me you run for CPTC and have a qualifier. Give me a break. Doubtful.

Wait it could be the one and only, Toby Tanser!

I am curious who you supposedly are too. Becasue you definitely haven't qualified since only two NYers have so far: Khalid and Fam!

http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-Marathon-Men/entry/eligible.asp