179 Qualifiers....what if you qualified? How would run the Trials?

Sprint like hell the first 0.2 miles, then just hang on the last 26.

Gerry Lindgren wrote:

Sprint like hell the first 0.2 miles, then just hang on the last 26.

That will get you on NBC's Today Show, not a bad idea.

I'd go with option 2. Only 3 will make the team. Might as well have a good result to go with you experience instead of being hauled off to the hospital after the 18th mile.

I'd go with option 1 even with the high probability of disaster. You never know what can happen. You also never know if you'll get an opportunity to run in the trials agains so why not go for it.

Depends a bit on how the actual race unfolded, but I would most likely run my own race and try to shoot for a top 30 finish and really enjoy the experience.

NowWhat? wrote:

The Forgotten Runners!

If you qualified for the trials as a 2:16 (or slower)marathoner how would you run this race?

1. Stay with the leaders as long as possible?

2. run smart and try to finish in the top 30?

3. getting a new pr would be just fine?

4. doesnt matter I will never break 2:15...ever!

5. try not to get in the way of the elites.

6. this course is so hard most the runners will will not break 2:22 this time around(100 plus will not run a 2:22 or faster....this is not Chicago or Houston)

7. does it really matter?

Hard course or not The OT should be a race for a PR by every 2:20 and under guy.

About half the field would PR at 2:20:30

90% of the field would PR at the 2:15 needed go to the Games(Olympic "A" standard).

I'd like to think that all the 2:18 & under guys would go out at 5:07/8 pace and see what kinda stuff they have left at the 20 mile mark (1:42:45)

If I were a 2:19/20 guy I'd want to get to 17/18 miles in good shape and really work the last 15K picking off one guy at a time looking for that top 25 finish.

2:20+...... have a great time a safe run and a world of fun.

I agree with #6.

If you feel that 2:16, 2:18, whatever is your best then I would suggest running your own race and maximize your potential to finish as high as possible and make some money. If you are faster, making the team should be priority #1. In Pittsburgh plenty of 2:20ish guys finished in the top 25 and had a decent payday by running even splits and coming from behind. This strategy will work again given the diffficulty of the course.

In light of the thread that was up for a few days recently, I think I'd walk it just to see the letsrun reaction.

Do you respect the guy that goes with the leaders for the first half of the race and finishes in 2:30 or the guy who ignores the leaders and picks off the stragglers and runs 2:17 and finishes top 20?

I respect both, because they ran a sub 2:22 and are racing at the Olympic freakin Trials. And what do I know about their respective race strategies and preparations?

But I respect the patient top 20 guy more. Don't get me wrong, the 2:30 finisher gets bonus points for not dropping out, but if he drops all the way back to 2:30 then he probably should have known from the start that he didn't belong with the leaders at halfway. I'm all for going for it in races, but marathon running requires training smart and knowing your body, so why eschew all of that when you get to the starting line?

if i qualified at 2:16, i'd be going to for place - on a good day, such a runner could get a nice payday. the further away from 2:16, though, run for a PR.

I don't necessarily give bonus points for not dropping out at the Olympic Trials. If a guy shoots for top 3 and realizes he's not going to make it at some point during the race, I have no problem with him dropping out --- especially if he is trying to make a living by running. Now, when he's wearing the USA uniform, that's another story.

I think that a number of those 179 come from the "B" qualifiers that are available to 5000 and 10,000m track times. For instance, Tegenkamp and Webb are not going to run the marathon trials just because their 5000/10,000 marks make them eligible. [I could be wrong, 179 might be just for those at 2:22:02 and under.

If I made the OT standard, presumably I'd do my best to be in the best shape of my life at the trials. If I couldn't do that because of injury, I'd just try to stay near the back of the pack and hang on if I was struggling or work my way up if I felt good.

Else, I'd try to prepare to run an even 2:20 by myself on the trials course, no matter what the leaders did. If I'm a 2:19-2:22 type guy, I'd figure there's no way that I'd be able to make the A standard on my own in a championship style race on that course. If I was in the top 3, I'd try to make the A standard in the spring (up to April 21) on a flat course with rabbits. I'd completely ignore everything else and only focus on my own splits. There's no more likelihood that I'd blow up that way than if I tried to go out at possibly 2:10 pace with the leaders.

This is your one chance for making the olympic team. Get a pair and go for the win. If you are only going for a PB and/or a good time or just to gain experience, then you are out of your league and don't belong there. This isn't a kiddies fun run.

179 met Q standard, 134 will run(ie entered now)

Josh McDougal qulaified. I think he's tied up with XC right now...