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

Keith Stone wrote:

Because then you won't have the spectical of some 2:21:59 guy blasting to the front of the pack wearing his sponsor's t-shirt for 15-16 miles before he get's swallowed by the pack and finishes in 2:40.

Before you try to be a smart aleck, you might want to think. When was the last Trials that happened at? I've been to several and I don't ever recall a guy who barely qualified breaking away from the pack and establishing a lead, especially with the intention of getting some press for his sponsor. Give me a break. The guys who qualify for the Trials aren't a bunch of local yokels. They all want to run their best that day and aren't going to do something stupid. USATF establishes a standard and lets more than 10-15 people in because it makes for a good race, and every now and then you get someone like Trent Briney and others before who don't come in with a fast qualifier but really factor into things on race day.

Spandau Ballet wrote:

And the time frame......don't even get me started. What's happened to our running administrators? Don't they give a damn any more?

Oh yeah, they give a damn. It's just that they give a damn about money not the athletes.

In response to the person who said no one will come see the trials race because it is in some sort of small town like NYC on a friday in central park is crazy. I want you to know that I have already scheduled my classes for tuesdays and thursdays in the fall so that I can go. And I am lucky because the trials falls on the off weekend between my conference meet and regionals. BOO YAH Achieved!!

for all those saying that NYRR bought the trials, how did they do that? Did they pay off the USOC selection committee?

I think the Saturday trials will lose money for NYRR.

Also, I'm not sure I understand the criticism of Mary - I had always thought she was doing good things for the sport, with the increased professional races in NYC as well as the committment to quality at local competitive races. what should she do differently?

I cannot agree wrote:

I am in the same situation as you are and I disagree. My family (and certainly my extended family) can't afford to come to New York on that weekend. We have already investigated the costs. You can't get a room in the city on that weekend for under $400 a night. For me to bring my wife, parent, and inlaws, I will need 3 rooms. That is $1200 a night plus tax. If they stay for 3 nights it is $4000 just for lodging. Meals are ridiculous in New York as well as transportation in the city, flights. I will probably just go it alone as to not make waves in the family and I am sure there are others in the same situation.

This is pretty simple isn't it? Don't take your parents and in-laws. If they want to come then they can foot the bill. NYC is a much more exciting place then Birmingham was. There were like 3 spectators last time and I remember standing on the starting line with like 80 guys and it was like a small local road race. They treated us great but the excitement that should have been there wasn't.

Perhaps you are right. To be honest, I realize that this will be my last trials, and for all practical purposes this is my Olympics. I will be content to sneak under 2:20. I would just like my family to be able to share it with me.

I would love to bring everybody and their brother to watch me too but I can only do so much. If they want to be there they have to foot their own ticket.

My point was that if it was almost any place else I could afford it. Even Boston on Boston weekend is half the price. Oh well, the purpose is to select an Olympic Team and that will be accomplished. Good luck to all.

Think then type wrote:

Before you try to be a smart aleck, you might want to think. When was the last Trials that happened at? I've been to several and I don't ever recall a guy who barely qualified breaking away from the pack and establishing a lead, especially with the intention of getting some press for his sponsor. Give me a break. The guys who qualify for the Trials aren't a bunch of local yokels. They all want to run their best that day and aren't going to do something stupid. USATF establishes a standard and lets more than 10-15 people in because it makes for a good race, and every now and then you get someone like Trent Briney and others before who don't come in with a fast qualifier but really factor into things on race day.

Of course I was being a smart alect, no more so than the person saying only 10-15 people should run. Maybe you need to go to sarcasm school. The last trials I remember the breakaway was 1996 in Charlotte with the dude in the "Intel" shirt.

Of course people in the trials want to run their best (belly flopping in the steeple pit non-withstanding). I'm also fairly confident in saying the 2:21:59 guy doesn't expect to be a major factor. Doesn't mean they shouldn't be there. It costs nothing to have them and this trails 2:21:59 guy may be next trails 2:10 guy. That does introduce the possibility that someone may use the trials as a publicity stunt, but I'm sure more people remember BK barfing than the breakaway anyway so I consider it an entertaining sideshow not a detrement.

The 1996 breakaway "dude" wasn't a total punter...he was Dr. Paul Zimmerman, who had run 2:14. I think he was even working for Intel at the time, so it wasn't a pure and simple one-day "your ad here" thing.

I think Tom Flemings' 2:19:27 Central Park record will fall.

On the hilly twisty course I'd bet 2:12 would take the trials.

2:12=2:08;30~2:09 on fast course.

ha, how did you come to that particular conversion?

Joseph McVeigh wrote:

The 1996 breakaway "dude" wasn't a total punter...he was Dr. Paul Zimmerman, who had run 2:14. I think he was even working for Intel at the time, so it wasn't a pure and simple one-day "your ad here" thing.

Thanks, Joe. Keith, you're looking more stupid all the time, but that seems a fairly common theme when you post.

Fleming was unpushed that race. He won by 6 minutes and he was a legit 2;12-2:13 guy so I split the difference -3mins for being 5:20s' alone and 3 minutes for hillytwisty course

Three other runners I know ran 2:30ish on that course and they PRed at 2:25-2:27.

Kentucky windage,dead reckoning,seat of the pants, guesstimate, call it what you want thats what I think..

It's not an easy course.

Answer to :midwesta RE: Why is the Men's Olympic Trials Marathon on November 2nd, 2007? 4/27/2007 8:41AM - in reply to Astoriaroom4rent Reply | Return to Index | Report Post ha, how did you come to that particular conversion?

astoriaroom4rent wrote:

Fleming was unpushed that race. He won by 6 minutes and he was a legit 2;12-2:13 guy so I split the difference -3mins for being 5:20s' alone and 3 minutes for hillytwisty course

Three other runners I know ran 2:30ish on that course and they PRed at 2:25-2:27.

Kentucky windage,dead reckoning,seat of the pants, guesstimate, call it what you want thats what I think..

It's not an easy course.