Learn how Tigist Assefa went from an 800-meter also-ran to one of the world's greatest marathoners after almost giving up the sport to move to the US for a job.

For the first time in a generation, an American is the favorite at a World Marathon Major.

• MB: For the 1st time in 15+ years, an American is favored to win a major marathon? Will Keira D'Amato pull it off?

Kipchoge delayed his quest to win all six majors by deciding to chase his own world record of 2:01:39 in Berlin.

• MB: The forecast for Berlin looks PERFECT. Just how fast will Kipchoge go?

D'Amato ran 2:19:12 in Houston in January but wants to go even faster in Berlin on September 25.

It was a survival contest the final half-marathon in Berlin, as the crazy fast pace (60:48 at half way) and warm conditions took its toll on the entire field. Guye Adola emerged as the winner, Bekele in 3rd. Gotytom Gebreslase was impressive in her debut.

Jonathan Gault spoke to Bekele's coach Haji Adilo and his agent Jos Hermens to get the scoop on the 39-year-old's preparations ahead of Sunday's Berlin Marathon. Adilo was very bullish on Bekele saying he thought the prep work had gone a little bit better than two years ago when he ran 2:01:41. *MB: Set your alarm clocks now. Bekele's coach: "He's in perfect shape now....I think [he can break the WR]."

As we choose the race of the decade, we're now down to 4 and the two most powerhouse #1 seeds now will clash. Which was a better race - Chris Solinksy's shocking upset of both Galen Rupp and the 27:00 minute barrier all at once in his pro 10,000 debut or David Rudisha's majestic wire-to-wire 800m WR in London? And what about Wayde van Niekerk's stunning WR from lane 8 to win Olympic gold in Rio or Eliud Kipchoge's marathon WR?

And the plan is to do it the optimal way- with a negative split.

Learn the back story of marathon's newest star Guye Adola who says he only found out he was running the Berlin Marathon last Wednesday. *MB: Learn some of the backstory behind Guye Adola - marathon's newest star

Agent Jos Hermens thinks Kenenisa Bekele is capable of much more in the marathon if he focuses on running and not his business empire. "Eight marathons, two wins, that’s not Kenenisa Bekele....What do you want to be, businessman or professional runner?"

2015 champ Gladys Cherono (2:19 pb) is the strong favorite on paper and will be going for the course record. Her main competition is Ethiopia's Amane Beriso (2:20 pb) and fellow Kenyan Valary Aiyabei (2:21 pb), who has won 4 straight marathons and is making her WMM debut.

The last six world records in the men's marathon (and 7 of the last 9) have all been set in Berlin. We take a look back at those historic races.

The Big 3 Eliud Kipchoge, Wilson Kipsang and Kenenisa Bekele are chasing the world record in Berlin on Sunday.

Kebede will look to become the fourth woman to win Berlin three times (she also won in '10 and '12) and the 21st woman under 2:20. Can rising stars Amane Beriso (2:20:48 in Dubai, 5th-fastest debut ever) or Birhane Dibaba (2015 Tokyo champ) take her down?

Maybe something positive will come out of the madness that was Ethiopia not selecting Bekele for their Rio marathon squad. *MB: Bekele and Kipsang in Berlin, also Yuki Kawauch

What  year: Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:04:00 with his shoes falling apart, Genzebe Dibaba ran 3:50.07 with both her shoes, Bolt defeated Gatlin, and Montaño, Symmonds, Farah, and Cheserek kept winning.