Burla is jsut happy to be on the starting line after having surgery on her leg last summer to remove a cancer re-occurence.

The women's field in the world championships is absurdly deep as it features 10 women who have broken 2:22.

This week in addition to praising Cas Loxsom and Serena Burla, we come up with the dream final race for Usain Bolt, which easily could be reality if Bolt wanted it.

Thomas Curtin, Trevor Dunbar and Ford Palmer are also in the field. Women's race has Serena Burla and Natosha Rogers.

The women's field in Chicago has a total of seven women with PRs under 2:25 including the Kiplagats, Boston champ Atsede Baysa and Kenyan Olympian Visiline Jepkesho. Serena Burla (8th at Olympic Trials), Alia Gray (10th at Olympic Trials) and Sarah Crouch (2nd American at Boston) are the top U.S. entrants.

The race will have its first American woman in 11-years as prize money will be for US athletes only. 2015 winner- Emily Chebet, who also won in 2010 and 2013– was given a 4-year doping ban last year.

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?

Mare Dibaba broke 2:20 and won Worlds this year so she deserves to be #1, particularly when you factor in she was also 2nd in Boston. Speaking of Boston, there, Desi Linden ran the fastest time on the year for the US and placed the highest of any American in a major this year.

Serena Burla leads the Americans.

Sambu finished 8-seconds ahead of runner-up Jacob Riley and other top Americans included Girma Mecheso (5th), Jared Ward (10th) and Luke Puskedra (12th). For the women, Wacera was given the same time as runner-up Cynthia Limo while Wichita State alum Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton was a distant 3rd. Serena Burla was the top American in 6th while Megan Goethals and Juliet Bottorff were 8th and 9th. Jen Rhines was the top master in 16th.
*MB: Cherry Blossom 15K The course was short as it had to be changed at the last minute due to a car accident.

Ethiopians Yebrgual Arage (2:23:23) and Birhanu Gedefa (2:08:03) got the wins as American Kellyn Taylor (2:28:40) had a nice debut and Aaron Braun (2:12:54) was the top American man.
On The Boards: Also at Houston - Aaron Braun 2:12:54; Kellyn Taylor 2:28:40

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.

Christo Landry and Aaron Braun also in men's field. Desi Linden (Davila), Sara Hall, Julie Culley, Lauren Fleshman and Serena Burla lead women's field.

This week we start by trying to put Galen Rupp's American record in perspective before handing out praise to the US men for their record-setting day in Houston, where Meb Keflezighi and  Serena Burla picked up big wins. Along the way, we give out big props to the Houston organizers, remind you to never trust a Canadian, never marry a distance runner and don't forget to drink 10 pints before your next marathon. Plus Mo Farah will soon find out all of the big talent is in the marathon and rare, rare praise for a Mexican marathoner.