Us National 12K - Who you got?

Great fields. I'll take True over Estrada in the last mile.

When is this race?

Sunday. Alexandria, VA.

Molly Huddle

What's with the course change from last year?

Is it so the main race can watch the elite athletes run by and cheer for them? It is completely an out and back course. 6k out, 6k back. Last year gave a tour of the northern part of Alexandria.

Less streets to close would be my guess.

Weren't there also issues last year with the course design, like sharp turns and non-spectator friendly? Or am I thinking of another .US race?

Huddle and True are going to roll, plain and simple.

There were more turns than this year for sure and many roads were closed which I think irritated the locals. Also, they had a 5k which partly ran on the 12k course. Now the 5k has been dumped for a 1 mile race on a street used for the 12k start so far fewer road closures.

I think someone (Abdi? Meb?) did wipeout on a turnaround or something last year. I think it was here, but I had lost contact with the lead pack (lol) and didnt see it myself.

Abdi stepped on a wet metal sewer grate and slipped out. He was too accustomed to dirt roads at altitude and didn't know how to handle a city street.

The tour of Alexandria last year was nice. This course seems flat and fast this year, but boring. It has to be flat because it goes along the Potomac. A strong wind along the course may make it more interesting.

This year's course is a 100% improvement over last year's tour of Alexandria. Just too many damn turns last year. I would expect they will run faster this year as they simply get on the GW Parkway, go south, turn around and come back. They could face stiff winds on the way home though.

Weather forecast is cloudy and cool for Sunday as of today.

Tyler McCandless will win the obnoxious instagram photo contest you can book it.

I'd bet my house on it actually.

I thought Estrada ran for Mexico?

cbenson4 wrote:

I thought Estrada ran for Mexico?

Estrada, Leo Manzano and Alberto Salazar all run, or have run, for the Mexican national team.

Polly p wrote:

cbenson4 wrote:

I thought Estrada ran for Mexico?

Estrada, Leo Manzano and Alberto Salazar all run, or have run, for the Mexican national team.

Salazar is of CUBAN heritage, dumba$$.

Rad to see German Fernandez racing

How did Devin Monson get into this race?

No Ryan Hall?

My bet is on Gotcher. Solid field and looks to be a fun race to watch.

pauly wrote:

How did Devin Monson get into this race?

By being a 29:00 10k guy?