What’s the big deal about the “Olympic Trials” ....

like really jim wrote:

Another serious question, or questions: with just 250 or so runners on the men's side, are there corrals or some kind of system to everyone lining up? Or can all the 2:14-2:19 hobby joggers toe the line right next to Galen? Is it a free-for-all with everyone elbowing their way to the front?

Ive wondered about this too. Anyone who’s ran the Trials want to chime in?

macfred wrote:

[quote]like really jim wrote:

Ive wondered about this too. Anyone who’s ran the Trials want to chime in?

In Birmingham and NYC, the start line was a free for all. That said, all of the tops dogs were at the front. There was plenty of respect for our Olympians and Olympic hopefuls, so no random 2:21 guy was elbowing Meb out of the way.

In 84 there was not nor the ones before with smaller fields. Pre race announcements, 5 min warning, call to the line. Everyone sorted themselves out. You know you don't belong up front if your #160. It's a fraternity, so everyone behaves, plus everyone is nervous.

I completely agree with you.

I only use Strava as the tool it is designed for; everything is set to private and i only follow pro-runners.

I do my speed workouts on Thursday evenings after putting in a full day at my office job, pushing myself. The people in my life know i run and race on occasion, but I never bring it up unless asked.

If a science-based journal published an article stating running was actually bad for you, I would read it with interest then go out on my run.

I'll never be fast enough for an OTQ. I'll probably never even get a time-qualifier for NYC or Chicago. But I'll still run as long as my body can handle it.

I couldn't read through all of the replies to the OP's douchey inquiry but here's my response....

Apollo Creed thought it would be cute to give someone of immigrant heritage a shot at the World Heavyweight title on this countries bicentennial birthday. That random selection by the name of Rocky Balboa thought at first he wasn't good enough to even hold the champs spit bucket. Once old man got in his head, it was game on!

If you don't get it, you never will. Too bad for you...

Think About It wrote:

This is an honest question - why do people talk about running “the Olympic trials” as though they actually have a chance of making the Olympics? Is the USA the only country that picks their team this way? It seems much ado about nothing .....

I'm 62 and have been a runner for more than 50 years.

It probably should not bother me that there is so much bragging about making the OLYMPIC trials. I mean, look at all the hotdogging in professional sports! It might be right that we qualify so many for the trials.

As a writer, I find it boorish how so many find their achievements as runners worthy of publication.

Mostly it's that I'm jealous. There was a time in my life where I was capable of running around 2:20 in the marathon. Injuries are the main reason why I never attempted it.

Even the olympic marathon itself is about nothing. It does not decide the best marathoner. Sometimes the best marathoner (Kipchoge) runs it and wins, sometimes the best marathoner (Haile) stays away. Noone was ever considered the best because of winning at the olympics, since about 50 years ago (Bikila).

By contrast, the olympic 100m does tend to decide the best sprinter. That's why it's still a big deal.

Think About It wrote:

elephino wrote:

I get to compete for varsity.

I qualified to run at conference.

I'm going to state.

I'm going to run on a college team.

I scored at conference.

I qualified for regionals.

I'm going to nationals.

I made the Olympic trials.

I made the Olympic team.

I won a gold medal.

All those are cool things. Just because you're unlikely to do the next thing doesn't mean the previous one isn't something to be happy about.

Might as well say what's the big deal about making the Olympic team if you're not going to win a medal.

Kind of the point again - Go ahead and do these fantastic things - brilliant personal achievement but do you need to make out you’re somehow better than everyone else?

The REAL question should be: why are you making a point to take this so personally?

A lot of the rest of us are secure enough with accepting this pecking order without feeling like lesser people at the same time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Co-Flounder wrote:

Serious question. What do the participants and finishers receive? I am guessing they don't give out finisher's medals. But a race shirt would be an awesome souvenir.

They gave t-shirts and finishers medals out in LA in 2016.

What about track? wrote:

The 10k qualifying standard is 28:00. If they made it 30:00 to match the soft marathon standard, would that grow track? Track needs more excitement.

Don't need to grow track, certainly not as much. There is a huge population running competitive, developmental track in the USA. When was the last time we didn't send a full team of 3 for a given track event for lack of OQ athletes?

sjsjsjsjsjdsuhhg wrote:

It’s the hardest marathon to qualify for in the US. It’s a great chance for competition. It’s something to be proud of. I don’t see the issue.

Come on bro, let the OP have his day, just like all of those hobby joggers will have their day at the Trails, which is essentially just the Olympics for hobby joggers. So sad.

As most would know, I am an advocate of bringing attention to worldwide distance running over and above the American road race scene through my threads, but I am intensely interested in this event.

There is not one athlete in the 4 major sports in the past 50 years that could come close to being competitive at the marathon. Just let it go. And by numbers more people run then play any other sport from grade school through adulthood. The marathon will also be popular spectator and competitor event.

elephino wrote:

I get to compete for varsity.

I qualified to run at conference.

I'm going to state.

I'm going to run on a college team.

I scored at conference.

I qualified for regionals.

I'm going to nationals.

I made the Olympic trials.

I made the Olympic team.

I won a gold medal.

All those are cool things. Just because you're unlikely to do the next thing doesn't mean the previous one isn't something to be happy about.

Might as well say what's the big deal about making the Olympic team if you're not going to win a medal.

This is one of the best posts I’ve read on these forums. Seriously, this brilliant reply gets at the heart of why most of us bother to compete at all. Because we want to make it as far up that ladder of progression as we can. Because it’s fun to compete and see how far you can get, even if you are just a JV runner at a small high school trying to make varsity.

There’s value at every level of competition.

Think About It wrote:

elephino wrote:

I get to compete for varsity.

I qualified to run at conference.

I'm going to state.

I'm going to run on a college team.

I scored at conference.

I qualified for regionals.

I'm going to nationals.

I made the Olympic trials.

I made the Olympic team.

I won a gold medal.

All those are cool things. Just because you're unlikely to do the next thing doesn't mean the previous one isn't something to be happy about.

Might as well say what's the big deal about making the Olympic team if you're not going to win a medal.

Kind of the point again - Go ahead and do these fantastic things - brilliant personal achievement but do you need to make out you’re somehow better than everyone else?

Just because you've had a bad personal experience with a blowhard flaunting their OTQ achievements doesn't mean they're all like that. Every sport has those kinds of people. Especially sports where you actually HAVE to interact with others. Just be happy running isn't one of them, and carry on. At least you're not getting picked last on the team because you a run a 30 minute 5k.