Men's Marathon Trials on Nov 3

On Saturday, Nov. 3rd, the most impressive field of American marathoners in history will race 26.2 miles in NYC's Central Park for the chance to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Men's Olympic Marathon Trials begins at 7:30 a.m. There will be a live webcast available here:

NBC Live Webcast of Men's Marathon Trials

There will also be a wrap-up show broadcast on NBC (TV) at 2:00.

The race begins at 5th Ave and W. 50th street and after a mile and a half, enters Central park from the South. The runners then complete five+ loops of Central Park, finishing at Tavern on the Green (the traditional finish line for the NYC marathon). The course is probably best described as rolling. The runners will climb as much as 50 feet in a mile ten separate times as they loop through the Park, meaning the times might not be blazing fast.

Course map - Course elevation profile

The field includes luminaries and dark horses. Among the luminaries:

Alan Culpepper (35), PB 2:09:41 - The 2004 champion, 12th in the Athens Olympics, 2007 U.S. XC Champion, looking to make one more Olympic team.

Abdi Abdirahman (30), PB 2:08:56 - Two-time Olympian at 10,000m, ran 60:29 for the half marathon in August. Very fit, very ready.

Dan Browne (31), PB - Made the 2004 Olympic team in the marathon and 10K, has been training with Meb Keflezighi in Mammoth Lakes.

Ryan Hall (25), PB 2:08:24 - Hall might be the favorite, after sparking debuts at the half marathon (AR 59:43) and marathon (2:08:24) in 2007. Hall ran with the best in the world in the 2007 London Marathon, briefly taking the lead at the 35K mark.

Meb Keflezighi (32), PB 2:09:56 - The 2004 Olympic silver medalist. Third at Boston in 2006. Ran 27:41 for 10K this summer. In ten starts, has never won at the marathon distance.

Khalid Khannouchi (35), PB 2:05:38 - Former world record holder and the only man in history to run sub 2:06 three times. Kannouchi has had a series of injuries that have hampered his racing and training in the last year. Is he healthy and fit enough to recapture the form that led to four vistories at the Chicago marathon?

Dathan Ritzenheim (24), PB 2:14:01 - Ritz has run one marathon, but his track credentials are outstanding (including 9th in the 10,000m at the world championships). He is also a new dad. Is this his year, or will he be better in four years?

Brian Sell (28), PB 2:10:47 - Sell made the U.S. team for the Helsinki World Championships where he finished 9th. he finished 4th at Boston in 2006, and his strength is strength and consistency. The rolling trials course might be to his advantage.