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

You have no clue. As I said in another thread, Trust me, the crowds will be there for the trials. New York spectators are more sophisticated than anywhere else in the country. When you combine and event like the trials with the majesty of the greatest city on the planet you are going to see a real show.

The date is horrible for anyone interested in running the World Champs track events (or the marathon). It is horrible for athletes who have yet to qualify (does anyone know when the qualifyign window closes?) but these "B" athletes aren't the concern of the NYRR.

And financially it really doesn't cost the NYRR that much. Meb, Alan, Ritz and Abdi and crew probably get over $250,000 in appearance fees when they run the ING NYC Marathon. That is the total prize pool for the Trials. So NYC is getting them for less than their market value (plus they don't have to pay any additional prize money to them). Also, the real kicker is whether the athletes will make the team, then run Boston in the fall. If not an athlete like Meb is giving away 6 figures.

The fall date would never have happened if the athletes were really listened to. Once Meb and crew realize the fall date is costing them a lot of cash, I think we'll be back in the spring. There is a reason why every trials before this one was in the spring.

Easy answer to your question is money, plain and simple, not picking the best team, not the athletes' best interests, not media coverage, not atmosphere, not any of that.

Someone gets it!!! Give that poster a prize!

The athletes hate it. I have not talked to one athlete that thinks it is a good idea. The coaches hate it. The agents hate it. This decision was made by 2 individuals. They hid behind a committee. Ask Coach Sev or the Hanson bros.

The timing seriously could not be worse. Its a major conflict for the World Championships and yes I know that people making the B standard are not a high priority but the it is the spirit and tradition of the event to have guys come and race that have meet the qualifying standards just like a guy who has run 2:12.

So for some a 2:22 guy is not important in the final outcome of the event, these runners are still important. In order to foster the development of runners you need to have that dream alive and the hope and ambitions of making the Olympic Team or even just qualifying for the trials. This is what is so unique about the Marathon trials. It is obtainable for more runners and it adds to the entire spirit of the weekend. Cutting out an entire fall and late winter to qualify for the trials will make a difference in the size of the field and if you ask me is a determent to the sport. No it will not change the outcome of who will make the Oympic team but it does dilute the spirit of the event. I personally think a field of 120 -140 is a lot better than a field of 70 or 80 runners. The more the merrier.

Finally, the unfortunate thing is NYRRC bought this race and it all comes down to money!

If you are unhappy make people aware. Write to sponsors of the New York Marathon. Write to sponsors of USATF. Write to Craig Masback. Do not write to anyone involved with LDR as your message will not go any further. Keep in mind that LDR thinks that this is a great decision.

i fail to see why 2:22 marathoner would see NYC as a bad option. instead of having the race in some small out of the way place, NYC is more likely to draw his family and lot more friends, as well as get cheered by TONS more people. that 2:22 guy wouldn't have a shot at WC's anyway, and would be aiming for a fall marathon. if anything NYC is a great place for someone who busted their hump to run 2:22.

As for WC's, well that's tough, it may cause some athletes to decide, sure, but it's not the first time people have pulled off a summer mara and a fall mara. it can be done. heck baldini is even considering NYC right now. Really this only affects the Hanons with two of their guys so let's not get ahead of ourselves here. And really, they are not going to like any plan they didn't concoct themselves in the first place or isn't in their best interest.

Actually it has nothing to do with the 2:22 marathoner having more people to cheer for him. It comes down to not having the entire fall and winter of 2007 - early 2008 to qualify. Most of the big qualifying marathons are held in the fall or early winter. So basically most people need to get their qualifer this fall otherwise their chance dwindled on making it. The last option is really next spring but there is not a ton of great qualifying marathons.

So for people trying to qualify the window has shrunk immensely not to mention it took them FOREVER to actually announce when and where it was going to be held.

It really doesnt matter how many people are cheering at the actual trials because the 2:22 marathoner is just glad to be in the race and may be looking to hit a PR. The crowd is really pointless if you can't qualify due to the shortened window of opportunity.

So so true wrote:

It really doesnt matter how many people are cheering at the actual trials because the 2:22 marathoner is just glad to be in the race and may be looking to hit a PR. The crowd is really pointless if you can't qualify due to the shortened window of opportunity.

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.

NY sub elite wrote:

Any inconvienice in timing is trivial compared to the honor and media exposure you get running in NY.

Bwaaaaa,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Post of the day right there.

You were being sarcastic, right?

You must be confused...

Grand Canyon

Black Canyon

Glenwood Canyon

Rio Grande

...those are canyons son.

You live in a city.

Sarcasm is beneath the sophisticated New Yorker. The media exposure from running and winning in New York is greater than anywhere in the world, making New York the only place the trials should be held.

NY sub elite wrote:

Sarcasm is beneath the sophisticated New Yorker.

Sophisticated? i never knew there was a sophisticated way to mug someone, or is that a bit of sarcasm from the "sophisticated" one?

NY Elite is clearly a troll... nevertheless, the Nov. 2007 date seems a little odd and not really that fair to the guys who need the extra time to get a qualifying time. Those are the local guys who are really the lifeblood of the sport, but screw them, right? There's some money to be made by sending some guys out to circle around in a park for a couple of hours.

I'm curious as to why they can't do the men's and women's races on the same day in the same city?

Wait... it's the $$$. Nevermind.

I am not a troll, I only speak the truth. They could have held both trials here, but the powers that be have to throw a bone to the lesser cities in the country for political purposes.

At least since Spence in 91 and Plaatjes in 93, it seems like most of our top guys have skipped the WC maraton, it'd be great to see a list of the teams we've fielded since then. I doubt Meb, Culpepper, Ritz, Abdi were going to run the WC marathon. Nothing's stopping them from running the 10,000 at World's and then the OT marathon.

I don't really see why guys who haven't even hit the 2:22 standard would factor into the decision making at all. I'd rather just see them make the NYC Marathon the OT race and let our boys do what they can against Tergat, etc., but this will be an exciting race as it is, with much more exposure than in some small town.

Actually the US Men's team finished 4th in the 2005 World Cup at the World Champs. Sell was 9th overall.

ambassador orange wrote:

I'd rather just see them make the NYC Marathon the OT race and let our boys do what they can against Tergat, etc., but this will be an exciting race as it is, with much more exposure than in some small town.

The exposure will be huge along with the crowds. The fact that it is in NY gives it much more credibility across the whole country.