In the past, US distance stars Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan had excellent debuts in NY. Will that trend continue in 2016? Huddle, Jorgensen and Kim Conley certainly hope so.

Huddle and Conley will make their marathon debuts as they compete with Kellyn Taylor, Sara Hall and Annie Bersagel while Ritz will line up alongside Ryan Vail and Matt Llano.

Video interviews with some of the top contenders.

We take a look at the underdogs in the field - everyone not named Desi Linden, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher and Amy Cragg. *MB: Women's marathon preview: Will anyone but Linden, Flangan, Goucher or Cragg make the team?

Last week LRC debated whether Galen Rupp was the favorite in the men’s race. Now we turn our attention to the women's side. Who's the favorite? Who gets top 3?

What a week it was with London, Boston, Drake and Penn. Annie LeBlanc kept rolling at Penn, we've got an excuse for Zersenay Tadese, we tell you why so many of you hate sit and kick races, talk Larry the Legend's underwater treadmill, masters doping and more.

Marius Ionescu of Romania won the men's race in 2:13:19.

The deep field also includes Joyce Chepkirui, Buzunesh Deba and Annie Bersagel.

Meb Keflezighi goes for the three-peat against a field that includes Josphat Boit, Shadrack Biwott, Diego Estrada and Girma Mecheso. In the women's race, marathon specialists Annie Bersagel and Lauren Kleppin will attempt to hold off U.S. 10,000 champ Kim Conley. Sara Hall and 2012 Olympian Janet Bawcom are also in the field. Races start at 6:55 a.m. CT on Sunday.

The 2:05:25-man will face Debeb Tolossa and Aaron Braun. The women's race is led by 2:25:39 runner Fatuma Sado who faces Biruktait Degefa (2:26:22) and Serena Burla. The half will once again be the US Half-Marathon Championships and features Meb Keflezighi, Josphat Boit, Matt Llano, Janet Bawcom, Sara Hall, Kim Conley and Becky Wade.

Tirfi Tsegaye won two majors and is world #1 in a year marred by doper Rita Jeptoo.

Mary Keitany (2:18:37 pb) may be a Paula Radcliffe type talent, but she'll have her hands full in NYC in her first marathon in two years. She'll be challenged by former double World Champ Edna Kiplagat, and NYC champs Jelena Prokopcuka and Firehiwot Dado, plus 2013 runner-up Buzunesh Deba. Desiree Linden leads the American field, which also includes 41-year-old Deena Kastor (shooting for 2:25) and Kara Goucher, in her first marathon since April 2013. 

 

Meb, Meb, Meb: We break down Meb's amazing win at Boston and Rita Jeptoo's finish. Plus, emails from Ryan Hall's mom, Meb's brother, some praise for Dan O'Brien, a sub 5 beer mile, Annie Bersagel joins the sub 2:30 club, and some tremendous pro action at Drake.

Bersagel set almost a 2-minute PR to get an upset victory at the Duesseldorf Marathon.

A nice PB and win for Beragel after her 13th place finish at the World Half Marathon Championships.

The Kenyan women were perfect and the American women almost got the bronze.