NYC Marathon Bid for Olympic Trials

Fixed Camera positions in Central Park, obviously you have never run or been in Central Park. What could be the longest view, perhaps 400m?

Speaking of the course, it was used for the More Marathon (only 40-and-over women allowed to compete) last March. It was an unusually warm day for late March in NYC. 41 year old Susan Loken ran 2:45:35 to win. That was only about a minute slower than the time she ran in St. Louis at the 2004 Trials where it was much cooler. Maybe the courses are of similar difficulty?

yessirree wrote:

1) Probably so they have an extra day to get the Park ready for the 35,000 runners on Sunday. There's a Friendship Run on Saturday but that could easily be canceled.

2) The Boston Marathon. I doubt the Men's Trials will fit into this category but there's something special about an important game that takes place during work hours. The Red Sox - Yankee playoff of 1978 comes to mind. I'm old.

3) Obviously to thwart letsrun conspiracy theorists who would later complain that NYC pulled the wool over USATF's eyes with other promises.

4) I see a couple of problems with the Park as the course. Quite simply, it's impossible to marshal. Some eccentric society matron will be walking her poodle and absolutely refuse to leave the course. Let alone the cyclists who will make it a point to cycle that day.

Patriots day is a holiday in Massachusetts. The majority of people DO NOT have work on that day so please don't compare having the Boston Marathon on a monday to the NYC Trials thing. I think this blunder leave the door open to Boston getting both trials (i hope they bid for both) or at least getting one and akron or minnesota getting the other.

MillroseDave wrote:

Fixed Camera positions in Central Park, obviously you have never run or been in Central Park. What could be the longest view, perhaps 400m?

Oh no. Your'e right. NYC marathon has trashy t.v. coverage. The t.v. truck interferes and IS the pacesetter.

I've yet to see anything but cliche still pictures from the marathon and road runners club. NY City has some of the finest photgraphers in the world. We never see any professional photographs of the marathon. The brochures and road runners website are full of horrific pictures.

I was in Central Park for the last 2 editions of the More marathon. Traffic was a joke. cyclists, walkers, joggers weaved in and out of teh runners. Can anyone that ran these races comment on this or was I just seeing isolated incidents?

1. Why not put the race on for those who have actually come to watch a 1st class marathon on Sunday?

2. There are no cyclists on the roads during the marathon.

3. Central Park loop is relentlessly hilly if not difficult. One flat quarter mile stretch in 6 miles. Meb ran 22:16 on it because he is fast.

4. I did not read your 4th point because it began with a ridiculous statement and seemed to meander into more meanignless territory just like this point that I am no blah longer blah blah mum dog bananna patch.

5. I disagree with you because you are wrong and most people against this are probably against radically changing and shoehorning a marathon into an event filled weekend in an unusual way. NYRR often says "can't" when it comes to the Marathon for 30,000 and then for this they get VERY creative.

BTW NYRR has been doing a great job promoting Elite running and your final statement makes no sense.

USATF is actually a very effective and beneficial organization. One of the best I've seen. But NOT for the athletes, mind you, for the top level salaried and volunteer officers ! If you are a USATF insider, you get free airfare, free 5 star hotel rooms. A meets USATF blocks out the entire 1st turn for the VIPs, friends and family members. There are free meals, beer and wine for those with the wherewithall to have USATF priviledges.

Why not have the US Olympic Marathon Trials in the streets of NYC (gawd, not Central Park at least not for ALL FIVE laps) on the morning of St. Patrick's Day? With the exception of World Cross, the timing is perfect.

The streets will already be closed for the parades/festivities and such on that day anyway. This will also provide a built-in crowd and enhance media exposure.

The local businesses associated with the St. Paddy's Day parade and such would receive free advertising via the Olympic Trials in exchange for subsidizing the lengthened street closure.

March 17th is the only "built-in" spring holiday and it's highly visible in NYC. The vibe would be similar to Patriot's Day in Massachussetts and the weather should be tolerable. Wind, rain and warm snow, or maybe warm sun, but nothing too frigid or hot/humid.

ST. PADDY'S DAY USATF OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS!! GO NYC! (No, I'm not from NYC, I simply think it has the potential to provide the best media exposure we've had in eons).

Hell, the marathon DNFs could drown their sorrows with Guinness later taht day and even come back at Boston if they were so inclined.

ny is the always the very last on my list for any sports. a city of whiners and crybabies. the 911 thing showed what a bunch of pathetic pussies ny is. the mayor is a zionist murderer and terrorist. the former mayor is the godfather's lisping gay chior boy-toy.

Count that as a no vote. Like it or not, at least you have a strong opinion of New York City. You won't get the same reaction for Birmingham or Akron. This is Howard Coselll, speaking of sports.

I presume for the Olympic Trials there would be a little bit better course control.

i like the nyc proposal. i like the criterium course setup. if you're going to get bored doing the same loop, then maybe you should go run a more scenic marathon. i hate the idea of running in similar conditions to the olympic marathon. the olympic qualifiers need to be able to recover and continue training rather than be beaten up by horrible conditions. this also wouldn't assist them in getting the 'A' standard. during their marathon buildup, they'll have plenty of time to train for the conditions that they'll see in the olympic marathon.

Subway Groper wrote:

ny is the always the very last on my list for any sports. a city of whiners and crybabies. the 911 thing showed what a bunch of pathetic pussies ny is. the mayor is a zionist murderer and terrorist. the former mayor is the godfather's lisping gay chior boy-toy.

That was beautiful. Thank you.

I think it's still too soon for that.

[quote]

great thread