Should I lead the first half of Olympic Trials then drop?

Do it. Lots of posters here will think you're a hero who went for it.

whatever pace you open with, CJ will still be in front of you

Sounds like a douche move.

Disrespectful to the other people in the race who've actually earned their spot at the front.

The people in the front of the race are getting paid to race it. Screw them, lead it. Anyone who gets upset that you were in front of them for part of a race isn't worth caring about anyway.

The purists will say run your best race and take pride in finishing the best place you can.

Your true friends will tell you to roll the dice, lead the first half on rocket fuel pace and be that douchey white guy who wears a Kenyan singlet. If/when you drop out, make it dramatic. Do it before the chase pack gets to you so it doesn’t look like you outdid yourself, got caught, and just gave up. Have a limo waiting for you at a predetermined location, steeplechase leap over a course barrier, dive straight into the getaway car, and don’t post a single run on Strava until January 13th, 2025 when Shelby Houlihan’s doping ban expires. The more questions your dropout produces the better.

Sounds like a good plan.

Best to convince the Brojos to let you wear the LRC singlet and run the ‘Thon on Pure Hate.

If you are capable of leading Connor Mantz through, you might want to tidy up that 2.16 instead.

Perfect.

Write a book, get a screenwriter, make a Hollywood movie, open a couple of restaurants.

Sounds like you are set for life.

Normally, I would say that given the stellar field it would be a great opportunity to PR. Since the race is in Orlando, that's not going to happen. If a PR were possible, I'd say run a smart race and try to get the PR. Unless you get unseasonably cool weather, that's not going to happen. So given that, just go for it. Lead the race as long as you can then drop out. Then you have a fun story to tell people.

And we have our own screenwriter here who could create the script!

I would say go for it! If possible can boost your confidence and get you media recognition to build further on your running career. And many well paid marathons around the world are won by a 2:15- 2: 16.

Go for as crazy as possible (without compromising anyone else's performance). Crazy is normal nowadays anyways but you'll get the notoriety. You have nothing to lose but losing with regret. This is every TikTokers wet dream that they can't do.

I like this idea.

But one question is, if you decide to go all out for the first half, how do you maximize television time?

If you are down the road from the lead pack by any margin, I think they are going to know that you are going to fade badly and will only show you on occasion, as a reminder that you are out there. Most of the coverage will be on the "real" leaders.

Would it be better to just run at the pointy end of the lead pack, maybe a few feet off the front? Get absorbed into the group, then pop out again and pull ahead a few feet, stay there... rinse, wash, repeat?

I can only support this if you become a shoetuber, and shoetube the event with a selfie stick and host a group meetup shakeout run the day before.

You should smuggle a cigar, cigarette and/or blunt with you during the race. When you get to the point you're ready to drop, light that s*** up looking straight in the camera. Take a big hit and then go viral.

I led a famous runner in a big race into the woods at Van Cortlandt Park (this wasn’t by design, but I freaked out at the start). I did manage to finish, but barely. My fiends still talk about it. You have the potential to do this “on steroids” so to speak. Go for it! The story will last you a lifetime.

Yes do it and make damn well sure you are wearing a yellow letsrun.com tshirt