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

Sorry I posted it before finishing my thoughts...

The 5km/10km/marathon runners at the Osaka Worlds, people like Dathan Ritzenheim, Ryan Hall, Dan Browne, Meb, Abdi, etc., are going to be very hard-pressed to compete at a very high peak at the Worlds and then be ready for the Trials Marathon.

The Hansons team will probably have 2-3 runners in the Osaka World Championship Marathon, but asking these great runners to run another all-out Marathon 2 months later is a bit much.

"Another problem of the date is that it greatly narrows the window of opportunity for those ambitious runners who are just trying to qualify for the Trials. Chicago 07, Cal International 07, Austin 08, Houston 08 and Phoenix 08 are out of the picture for qualifying opportunities."

But can't these ambitious soles qualify at Chicago 06, CIM 06, Austin 07, Houston 07 and Phoenix 07?

Also Hanson's has some very nice, very dedicated runners, but they are hardly great.

do it now wrote:

"Another problem of the date is that it greatly narrows the window of opportunity for those ambitious runners who are just trying to qualify for the Trials. Chicago 07, Cal International 07, Austin 08, Houston 08 and Phoenix 08 are out of the picture for qualifying opportunities."

But can't these ambitious soles qualify at Chicago 06, CIM 06, Austin 07, Houston 07 and Phoenix 07?

Also Hanson's has some very nice, very dedicated runners, but they are hardly great.

Hanson's has about what, 10 guys under 2:16? That's still pretty damned good in my book. While 2:16 won't make the Olympic Team, it might make the World Championship team, and this runner should have a chance to at least TRY to make the Olympic Team. This is what the Olympic Trials are about, TRYING YOUR BEST. We all knew that there were about 5 or 6 runners who had legitmate chances (Meb, Sell, Browne, Shay, Verran, Culpepper) but the Olympic Trials concept is not about just who CAN win and make the team, but who SHOULD be there.

The above 5 races that I mentioned might get another 20 people qualified for the Trials. Possibly they didn't have good luck with their training in earlier marathons, so they deserve another chance. We all deserve another chance.

Jason

Chicago 07 is the last chance. Its not out of the question. To do the trials around the permiter of the park would mean closing 4 very busy streets. Ok 59th is a lot busy than 110th. I guess they'd have close some streets at he start from Rockefeller to CP but it would be shorter.

I think the course even though it cuts off the biggest hills still sucks. Its too hilly.

As has been stated many times before, this decision was not made with the best interests of the athletes or US distance running in mind. The key to the whole thing was money. The NYRR bought the Trials plain and simple and now everyone just has to deal with it. Money talks!

You make a strong case for only sub 2:15 guys in the trials race - we'd get about the same number of qualifiers as track events - and it would take away some people's dreams, goals, and a great experience for those who qualify. Is that what you want?

this whole thread is so stupid.

do it now wrote:

But can't these ambitious soles qualify at Chicago 06, CIM 06, Austin 07, Houston 07 and Phoenix 07?

Because most people are still improving, and some quite dramatically. How can that not be obvious to you?

New York City is without question the finest city in the United States and throughout the world. The New York City marathon is the only truly appropriate venue for these runners, who will be privileged to compete in these gloriously hallowed concrete canyons. A few hills will not do in the better runners in Beijing, this is all about New York City. There is no reason for the best AMerican marathoners to compete for bragging rights in some unrecognized backwater city no one cares about.

The media exposure and coverage will be unparalleled, the electricity generated by these Olympic Trials will resonate throughout the country and exceed the height of the Roman Empire. The populace of the finest city will deign to watch and cheer for these fine Olympic Trials contestants, offering them the thrill of their lifetimes.

The competitive gladiators will be able to regale their grandchildren with tales of appreciation for the opportunity to compete in New York City's Olympic Trials. The powers that be are not so oblivious. When they witness the sheer magnitude of this spectacle, USATF will collude with MYRRC and opt to hold the Olympic Trials in New York City every four years. God's will is done.

5 laps around Central Park... Sounds more like NASCAR... Me and my "redneck" friends will be sitting on the roof of the RV getting drunk on Budwieser and Cheering our favorite runner as he goes by on every lap...

I realize people are improving all the time. But if they didn't get it done already maybe it won't get done anyway. Or they will be vastly improved and make it to the 2012 trials. I don't think the whole process was particularly well handled, but I don't think half a year more of training will affect too substantial a number of legitimate trials qualifiers.

I am indeed biased toward Boston. Whether you are talking to the average U.S. sports fan (Nascar?,NFL? ....running, etc), or an international citizen, totally ignorant of our culture, there is a good chance he/she has heard of the BOSTON MARATHON! Can't say that about NYC Marathon, even though it has really stepped up. Boston and NYC Marathons are certainly considered among the plums of the World Marathon scene, today. Problem for NYC Marathon is BOSTON has about an 80 Year jump; a huge HISTORICAL advantage. Not taking anything away from the "Big Apple" and its cultural prestige, but Boston will always mean more in terms of a 26.2Mile footrace to the masses here and around the globe. Case in point: I was on a U.S. Marathon team, running in Kosice, Czechoslovakia. I was "talking" with a group of young Czech kids, maybe 10-15 years old, and I was having a difficult time communicating with them until the interpretor mentioned to them that I had run the BOSTON MARATHON. You would not believe their expressions, and one said in broken English: "Boston...Marathon, yes??" The kid didn't know me from Adam, but he wanted to make sure I had run The Boston Marathon!!! Wouldn't have happened with NYC, Twin Cities , Chicago Marathons.....and I live in Minneapolis.[quote]Do count wrote:

EXACTLY, the same exposure could have been received if BOTH the women's and men's trials were held in Boston. I actually think more people regard Boston as the bigger marathon when it comes to the average American who knows nothing about running. Everytime someone finds out I run marahtons they ask me if I have run Boston.

So I am tired of hearing that the men's trials had to be held in NYC to foster distance running in the US. This could have been accomplished in Boston and also benefited both the male and female athletes in terms of exposure and timing for the Olympics.

Hope you realize the irony. Running can only pray for the money involved in NASCAR. Perhaps 5 laps and Budweiser is the way to go?

Just to clarify, I was speaking about Boston only in its significance to RECOGNITION among the average U.S. and world citizens. Both Boston and NYC could stage a great Marathon Trials, as could a myriad of other U.S. locales. Having it in NYC in the FALL does smell a little of $ or political influences!!?? I would favor a Spring trial (April or May) in a larger city for publicity and excitement generated by thousands of spectators...gee, that does sound like Boston, doen't it? STEVE

yeeeeha, bring it on!! Jeff Foxworthy can do live commentary( you know yur a redneck runner when...) Possible locations: Atlanta, Daytona, etc. Would really simulate Beijing's weather conditions, also!!

None of you have addressed one of my most important points, the needs of the 5km/10km runners at the Osaka World Championships. There will be at least one runner (Abdi, Meb, Culpepper, Dan Browne, Ritzenheim, Ryan Hall) who would represent the USA in the 5km or 10km in Osaka, but would also like to run the Marathon Trials.

I have said many times that Ryan Hall should run a marathon within the next 8-9 weeks, but also we'd all like to see him have a great 10km at Osaka, right?

These runners should have the chance to start their training fresh for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Therefore, one of the main problems with the Olympic Trials is the date. I don't give a rat's arse about the media stuff, the money or the organizer. Even the issue with the course is somewhat secondary. The main problem is the date, and it should be moved to March at the earliest.

Jason

Please do not try to imitate me you'll only get frustrated by my sophistication....and your lack of it.

There is only one NY Sub Elite and that is me.

It continues to amaze me that some still question the wisdom of having the trials in the cultural diamond of the planet. Hopefully some of you will gain a small measure of sophistication in the near future and realize what a priviledge it will be for most of you to travel to a real city for the event.

NY Sub Elite: There is no question that NYC is a really great city. NYC is a great place to have the Olympic Trials Marathon, but on the right date!!!

in case you forgot already Jason, many runners have doubled back from summer Olympics and WC's and EuroC's and ran NY. Baldini this year for example. Radcliffe...Ramaala...Tergat. Heck, Geb ran Fukuoka like 2 months after Berlin.

having the trials in Nov also allows people to run cross or even a track season in the spring if the marathon trials don;t go well. you still have a shot in the 10k. or you can run in a spring marathon.

Question; if a runner gets a spot on the OTeam in the NY trials does he train for marathon only or does he train for the track season and not start marathon training until he knows if he gets a berth on the 10,000m team or not? Can you do both off the same training?