Today in Chicago, Galen Rupp followed their lead and became the first American-born winner of the Chicago Marathon in 35 years by running a personal best of 2:09:18 to win over last year’s champ Abel Kirui of Kenya who was second in 2:09:48.

The fix most certainly doesn't appear to be in in Chicago. If Galen Rupp wins his first major on Sunday, he'll almost most certainly have had to earn it.

Wilson Kipsang just ran 2:03:13 in Berlin. He says he wants his world record back. We think a course record (2:05:42) is more reasonable. But it should be exciting nonetheless and the best part about it is you don't have to get up early to enjoy. Live Saturday night during prime-time.

Chicago champ/Tokyo CR holder Chumba takes on '12 Olympic medalists Stephen Kiprotich and Abel Kirui, plus Amsterdam champ Bernard Kipyego, Berlin runner-up Eliud Kiptanui and Japan's top marathoner, Masato Imai (2:07:39 pb). Eritrea's Teklemariam Medhin (two-time World XC medalist) makes his debut.

Who deserved the #1 US ranking took some thought as Ritz beat Meb in Boston and Luke Puskedra had the highest WMM finish of any American (5th) and fastest time of the year as well (2:10:24).

Also Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), Jonathan Maiyo (2:04:56), Markos Geneti (2:04:54), Dadi Yami (2:05:41), Feyisa Bekele (2:06:26) and Eliud Tarus (debut - 60:04 half).

Desisa, who won just before the bombings two years ago, will finally get to properly celebrate a Boston victory after he kicked away from Yemane Tsegay after Dathan Ritzenhein led for much of the race and Meb Keflezighi looked tremendous before vomiting.

2013 champ Lelisa Desisa and former world record holder Patrick Makau (2:03:38 PR) are the headliners, but there's depth behind them with five sub-2:05 men overall and five more sub-2:07 + HM world record holder Zersenay Tadese (58:23).

This week we tell you not to believe everything Doug Logan (or the NY Times) tells you, remember Mbulaeni Mulaudzi at his finest and recall his stunning victory over a totally stacked field in 2009, determine that Jeff Nelson not Austin Tamagno is still the greatest in Mt. Sac history, and praise the slew of runners who are still racing incredibly fast at age 40.

The ridiculously deep fields include 11 men who have gone under 60-minutes and 7-women who have ran under 68:00. Men's side includes Bernard Koech (58:41), Stanley Biwott (58:56), Chicago Marathon champ Dennis Kimetto, former Half-Marathon World champ Wilson Kiprop and  2011 10,000m World champ Ibrahim Jelian. On the women's side there is London/NYC Marathon champ Priscah Jeptoo, Boston champ Rita Jeptoo and former 10K World champ Linet Masai making her half debut.