The Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Marathon amazed last week and we break it down for you. Plus is USATF or UK Athletics more dysfunctional? Molly Huddle tweets about the Vaporflys and an update on Steve Spence's quest to break 5:00 in the mile for the 44th straight year.

The Valencia Marathon field is LOADED and well tell you all about it here.

Former Dubai winner Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), former London winner Tsegaye Kebede (2:04:38) and former world bronze medalist Tadesse Tola (2:04:49) headline with Kiprotich while 2:24-woman Jessica Augosto is the favorite on the women's side.

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.

No one has repeated in Chicago since Sammy Wanjiru in 2010 (the final race Wanjiru would ever run). Chumba is the best of a shallow men's elite field that also features two-time London champ Tsegaye Kebede and two-time world champ Abel Kirui looking to resurrect their careers.

Kimetto faces defending champ Dickson Chumba, 2012 champion Tsegaye Kebede, 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Micah Kogo and Stephen Sambu making his marathon debut. Luke Puskedra, Nick Arciniaga and Diego Estrada head the American charge. World half-marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat leads the women's field against Boston champion Atsede Baysa and 2:23-women Valentine Kipketer and Gulume Chala.

In the last four years, Dubai has been won by four different guys - three of whom were making their debut and a fourth who was running just his second marathon. This year, the race is much more likely to be won by someone with experience. Watch it live on LetsRun.com on Thursday night at 9:30 pm ET. *Update: Coach Canova states the both Kebede and Abshero are out of the race.

He will face a tough field lead by two-time London champ Tsegaye Kebede.

Tadese will face 10 other men who have gone under the one hour mark including Atsedu Tsegay (58:47) and Tsegaye Kebede. Kiplagat faces five other sub-1:08 women.

Ethiopia's Tokyo Marathon champ Berhane Dibaba (2:22:30) and Yebrqual Melese (2:23:23) have been added to the women's field. *Discuss

Ethiopians Endeshaw Negesse and Birhane Dibaba got the Major marathon season underway with their first major wins as Stephen Kiprotich was a hero in second, Tariku Bekele bombed in his debut, Japanese twitter went nuts over the marathon, and Lauren Kleppin took a shot at greatness but bombed. We break it down.

A year ago a Geoffrey Mutai (2013 NY champ), Kebede (2013 London champ), Kiprotich (2013 World Champ) match-up would have been salivating. Now all 3 titans have something to prove against defending champ Dickson Chumba as Tariku Bekele makes his debut. In all, five sub-2:05 guys will toe the line on Sunday morning (Saturday night in U.S.).

Last week was a momentous week with Dennis Kimetto breaking the 2:03:00 marathon barrier. We take another look at that, compare Tsegaye Kebede to all American marathoners ever,  praise Shalane Flanagan, like Galen Rupp's medal chances, and tell you why runners are officially crazy.

Dennis Kimetto: “I know I am ready. My preparation has been good and I’m confident for Sunday. If the conditions are good, yes, we could break the world record.”

 

The men's race in Berlin has produced a world record four times in the last seven years. With Dennis Kimetto (2:03:45 PB, #3 all-time), Emmanuel Mutai (2:03:52 PB, #4 all-time), Tsegaye Kebede (2x London champ, 2:04:38 PB) and world half marathon champ Geoffrey Kamworor all vying for the win, Wilson Kipsang's 2:03:23 WR from Berlin last year in in serious jeopardy.

Ten takeaways on the impressive 2013 ING NYC Marathon won by Geoffrey Mutai.