Look, I get it someone running 2:21 is not a legitimate contender but how does it affect Galen Rupp is 50 more people qualify for the race. Galen is concerned with the people with the top-10 times (if that) and/or fast half qualifiers. Why not just have the trials on the track and invite the top-12 guys at this point?
I train in the northeast with a range of guys from 2:25-2:40. 2:21 seems much more attainable than hitting a 2:18. It gives the sub-elite crowd something to aim for. When you get a bunch of 2:21 qualifiers from small towns you get local stories and people caring about our sport who otherwise would not.
I honestly think the folks in charge have lost touch. It would have been nice to see a 2:22 standard in Houston but at least the race started at a time that made sense in good weather. It seems ridiculous to pick LA knowing that the temps would be awful. This did not grow the sport by trying to be in a big city and starting it later in the day. Ever heard of tape delay? I'm much more encouraged in this sport by watching the 2:25 guy in my group work at it every day and if he popped a 2:21 and made the Trials many more in my community would be. This would grow the sport. Novices can connect more with someone pounding the pavement who has a desk job versus Rupp who has every advantage as a pro runner with Nike.
Are there people we can collectively reach out to about this?
NE Runner
Let's get the Olympic Marathon Qualifying Standards back to 2:22 for men
Report Thread
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I'm not sure the OT is truly the place for participation awards. Is not a sub-elite comp'd local 5K good enough for you?
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NERunner053 wrote:
Look, I get it someone running 2:21 is not a legitimate contender but how does it affect Galen Rupp is 50 more people qualify for the race. Galen is concerned with the people with the top-10 times (if that) and/or fast half qualifiers. Why not just have the trials on the track and invite the top-12 guys at this point?
I train in the northeast with a range of guys from 2:25-2:40. 2:21 seems much more attainable than hitting a 2:18. It gives the sub-elite crowd something to aim for. When you get a bunch of 2:21 qualifiers from small towns you get local stories and people caring about our sport who otherwise would not.
I honestly think the folks in charge have lost touch. It would have been nice to see a 2:22 standard in Houston but at least the race started at a time that made sense in good weather. It seems ridiculous to pick LA knowing that the temps would be awful. This did not grow the sport by trying to be in a big city and starting it later in the day. Ever heard of tape delay? I'm much more encouraged in this sport by watching the 2:25 guy in my group work at it every day and if he popped a 2:21 and made the Trials many more in my community would be. This would grow the sport. Novices can connect more with someone pounding the pavement who has a desk job versus Rupp who has every advantage as a pro runner with Nike.
Are there people we can collectively reach out to about this?
NE Runner
As someone shooting for 2:25 this fall and dreaming of the 2020 Trials (far-fetched as it may be), I couldn't agree more.
Brojos - please lead the charge on this, haha. Otherwise Rojo's PR is the only realistic goal that I have left. -
NERunner053 wrote:
Look, I get it someone running 2:21 is not a legitimate contender but how does it affect Galen Rupp is 50 more people qualify for the race. Galen is concerned with the people with the top-10 times (if that) and/or fast half qualifiers. Why not just have the trials on the track and invite the top-12 guys at this point?
I train in the northeast with a range of guys from 2:25-2:40. 2:21 seems much more attainable than hitting a 2:18. It gives the sub-elite crowd something to aim for. When you get a bunch of 2:21 qualifiers from small towns you get local stories and people caring about our sport who otherwise would not.
I honestly think the folks in charge have lost touch. It would have been nice to see a 2:22 standard in Houston but at least the race started at a time that made sense in good weather. It seems ridiculous to pick LA knowing that the temps would be awful. This did not grow the sport by trying to be in a big city and starting it later in the day. Ever heard of tape delay? I'm much more encouraged in this sport by watching the 2:25 guy in my group work at it every day and if he popped a 2:21 and made the Trials many more in my community would be. This would grow the sport. Novices can connect more with someone pounding the pavement who has a desk job versus Rupp who has every advantage as a pro runner with Nike.
Are there people we can collectively reach out to about this?
NE Runner
Completely agree. It also creates a lot of interest from each person's local community. When someone makes the trials, you get their entire home town paying attention. There are kids in that town that see that attention and then make it their goal to make the trials someday. 2:22 is not just good for sub elite guys but for the long term development of distance running in the US. -
The standard should be lowered to 2:15
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dirtbag runner wrote:
The standard should be lowered to 2:15
+1.
2:20s are not winning any medals ever. -
Ah, the old "I can't run the current standard, so let the standard be changed so what I can run is the qualifying time".
Similar to "I don't have the GPA to get in a college that I really want to go to, so why don't they lower the standard, just for me!"
Look, if you can't run the standard and you are putting in as much effort as you can - then man up to it, you just can't run fast enough to make it. I don't see any shame or disgrace in that. You tried you're best, but weren't able to do it. Join the crowd.
TTYTT, it just sounds like you and your buddies want the the standard to be easier so you can brag about having made the Trials. -
Colonel Bleep wrote:
Ah, the old "I can't run the current standard, so let the standard be changed so what I can run is the qualifying time".
The standard was 2:22 for a long time, in case you didn't know that.
I agree with the OP. Standard should either be 2:12 or >2:20. Either you make it about the real contenders or you make it more inclusive. Shouldn't be in between.
The marathon is it's own beast apart from T&F and ought to be considered as such. -
2:22 would add way more than 50 guys, because it's not very hard to run 2:22.
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I think they should make the times harder. Force people to really train and stop mailing it in. Maybe someone from the US will break through and win.
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Those local stories are nice, but I am not sure it is going to get anyone to care about the sport longer than it takes to read the story.
The sport needs "heroes" and people who can engage with fans and the media and as much as it sucks to say it: being a white person would be great for the sport. Rupp has never engaged socially, but that is him. If he had Meb's charisma and social media presence, he could be that "hero". -
I missed the standard by less than a minute, but I disagree with you 100%. I want to earn my way into the race by rising to the occasion.
The sport is getting competative, deal with it. I missed NCAA regional qualifying in track by a few seconds because there were 50 people faster than me. It was my job to raise the bar and get ahead of two more. I didn't, and that is on me. It's not on the 48th guy to run slower, nor in this case is it on the people who set the standard to set it slower.
Rule #5: HTFU. -
dangleberry wrote:
2:22 would add way more than 50 guys, because it's not very hard to run 2:22.
Jesus Christ -
Hippo wrote:
I missed the standard by less than a minute, but I disagree with you 100%. I want to earn my way into the race by rising to the occasion.
The sport is getting competative, deal with it. I missed NCAA regional qualifying in track by a few seconds because there were 50 people faster than me. It was my job to raise the bar and get ahead of two more. I didn't, and that is on me. It's not on the 48th guy to run slower, nor in this case is it on the people who set the standard to set it slower.
Rule #5: HTFU.
Was the NCAA institution that you attended pretty competative academically? -
Say wha wrote:
dangleberry wrote:
2:22 would add way more than 50 guys, because it's not very hard to run 2:22.
Jesus Christ
What was his best time? -
I'm shooting for sub 2:30 and will never make either standard but fully support 2:22 (or even much lower).
These are only a few dozen runners in the US who can hit 2:18 and only a few thousand fans of the sport who can appreciate the difference between a 2:18 and a 2:30.
90% of marathon runners (already a small and self-selecting group) run 3:45 this year, 4:15 the next, 3:50 the next - they think good day vs. bad day is a 20 minute swing and have no idea of what the margins at the top mean.
With that backdrop why would you unnecessarily restrict entry? Why want you want to turn the trials into a sideshow that no-one's watching and no-one cares about when you could have a field of 5,000, an immediate friends and family audience in the millions and massively expand the scope and appreciation of the sport? There are logistical issues with T&F events but they don't really apply to the marathon - the same people will win if you have a field of 50 or 50,000, as every major shows.
A good point of comparison is the UK's night of 10Ks being used as the selector for Euro champs. A bit of imagination, a lot of beer and you have a compelling, massively popular event instead of another dreary qualification process that takes place out of sight of all but the most hardcore fans. -
Logistic issues:
Try having personal refreshment bottles for 5000 runners ( a requirement of the trials).
Multiple loop course with that many runners....forget about it.
And don't forget TV wants the women's race the same day just with a start time offset. -
NERunner053 wrote:
Let's get the Olympic Marathon Qualifying Standards back to 2:22 for men
Agreed! And by God will somebody get the OP a participation trophy before he stomps his feet and storms off. -
*rolls eyes*
We don't need novices to relate to the sport, or any other diluted action to make running interesting.
Runners make running interesting. That is why it is called running.
No feel good stories are required, and the Olympic trials are just that - Olympic trials. It is a hard standard for a reason, and those who qualify get to participate.
So let's lower the bar so you can satisfy your fantasy of running in the Olympic qualifier, and put up tons of posts on Facebook and instagram. -
you are saying, make the standard 2:10 to get rid of the riff-raff?
