What happened in the 2016 Olympic marathons where several athletes including Eliud Kipchoge and American stars Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan were given secret shoes, made to look like other shoes on the market, that scientists believe produce 2% gains in performance was "mechanical doping." Will World Athletics acknowledge this fact and potentially invalidate the 2016 Rio Olympic men's marathon results?

Tokyo may not have cachet of London or Boston but it's by far the best marathon for US fans to watch as it's on during prime time in the US. We get you ready for Saturday night's race.

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.

London Marathon 2nd placer Stanley Biwott and Olympic silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa highlight the recent additions.

Even without Eliud Kipchoge, the 2017 London race is LOADED as Bekele (Berlin), Ghebreslassie (NYC), Kirui (Chicago) & Wanjiru (Amsterdam) all won big fall marathons, while Lilesa took Olympic silver in Rio. Kenyan stud Bedan Karoki ('15 World XC/'16 World Half silver) is also making his debut.

Can Huddle get the AR? Will Emily Sisson arrive as the next US distance star? We'll find out on Sunday.

Can Callum Hawkins keep his hot streak going or will the Flagstaff-based Olympic silver medallist Feyisa Lelisa get the win? Who will be the top American? And what does Chris Derrick think of Nike's new shoes Zoom Vaporfly shoes - should they be banned?

In our preview, we focus much of our attention on American hopefuls Scott Fauble and Luke Puskedra, both of whom took fourth at the Olympic Trials last year.

LRC supervisitor David Graham has rolled out his 2016 world rankings plus plenty more thoughts on the year in men's marathoning. Obviously the great Kipchoge is #1, but where does Rupp rank?

Find out why this Olympian says he'll be killed or jailed if he returns to Ethiopia.

Some great racing in Tokyo as AWMM Series IX came to an end.

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.

The world record is on everyone's mind and Eliud Kipchoge (London champ) and Emmanuel Mutai (2:03:13 PB) will give it their best go in Berlin on Sunday? Check out our preview as we assess their chances, discuss whether Geoffrey Mutai is done, and wonder if Reid Coolsaet can get the 39-year old Canadian record. Plus Berlin, not Chicago or New York, may have the most # of elite Americans this fall in Shadrack Biwott, Sean Quigley, Matt Llano and Gabe Proctor 

Is Rotterdam worthy of WMM Status? Rotterdam has four men who've run sub-2:05 and eight men who have gone sub-2:07, including last year's runner-up Bernard Koech and '11 WC bronze medalist Feyisa Lilesa. Paris is wide open as 13 men have broken 2:08; 12:51/26:51 man Vincent Chepkok will also run in his 2nd career marathon.

Bekele, now working with coach and LRC message board poster Renato Canova, is targeting the course record of 2:04:23 and says he feels more prepared for his third career marathon. Desisa, who just lost out to Wilson Kipsang in New York last year, leads a group of 20 other men who have broken 2:10, including Berhanu Shiferaw (2:04:48) and Feyisa Lilesa (2:04:52).

The two all-time greats will be challenged by a slew of other top Kenyans and Ethiopians with PRs in the 2:04-2:05 and it would not take a huge upset for one of them to come out on top.

OH BABY WHAT A RACE!!! This one reads almost like fantasy track. Something has to give as it features the fastest man in history Geoffrey Mutai, the world record holder Wilson Kipsang, the defending champ Tsegaye Kebede, past champ Emmanuel Mutai, the Olympic and world champ Stephen Kiprotich, and the debuts of Mo Farah and Ibrahim Jeilan. We try to break it down for you. *IAAF: "Best Ever" Field