2016 Olympic Marathon Trials Athlete Review

So let me get this straight.

You competed in the OTs but complain about how

1) you didn't get a race t-shirt

2) how the mean commentators, correctly I might add, said that you weren't going to make the team.

Geez.. I thought hobby joggers were bad.

So let me get this straight.

You competed in the OTs but complain about how

1) you didn't get a race t-shirt

2) how the mean commentators, correctly I might add, said that you weren't going to make the team.

Geez.. I thought hobby joggers were bad.

1. Why am I wrong to want a shirt? As I mentioned all the volunteer stuff was really cool, and yes I would have liked it. If you think that is lame then okay I accept that. I would say from everyone I talked to post race though they agreed with me.

2. Yes I agree I was not going to make the team. Regardless I still think how you treat people does matter. For example, I have won a lot of races in my career. After the race I will often spend time cheering on others that are not as fast as me. I don't try to tear them down and make them feel like what they are doing doesn't matter. If you are about that then okay, but I am not.

Want to clarify one thing. The race did provide water and powerade on the course. It was at a table at the very end of the personal Fluid point. So there was other fluids available. Unfortunately this didn't address the issue of having to go 4 miles without a fluid station.

I did not hear the comments from the person in the pre race area but that is pathetic. Everyone there earned their spot on the line.

One thing that bothers me a lot in hindsight. During the technical meeting we were discouraged from dropping out anywhere on the course except the start/finish line. We were told that they could eventually get a vehicle out to pick up athletes at med stations but it would be very inconvenient for the race organizers. Given that the conditions got downright dangerous for racing a marathon I hope this did not influence anyone not to drop out at a point when they really needed to and put themselves at risk of injury or collapse.

You missed my point 2 and I was not articulate.

1) you have a finisher's medal that is more than enough. I'm sure you bragged enough on social media so everyone knows.

2) I never said I was okay, but who cares what commentators think. You earned your right to run. Eff them. USATF's job isn't to make your feel better, it's to chose the athletes for the Olympic marathon. Considering how it's done in other countries you are very fortunate to compete at the trials. Good to hear that you cheer "lessor" athletes (ironically, you just did what you the commentators did. You kinda tore them down)

It seems simple really. Throw these athletes some love and set the race up to provide the country with the best team for the course/conditions they will face in the upcoming Games.

Officially, this race is to determine who is going to be on the Olympic team. Unofficially, this is the Olympics for everyone else in the race. For the athletes not going to the Olympics we really should treat them more elite-ly than described, as unlike an entry to Boston or Kona that can be purchased - you have to earn your spot in this race. When they go home they should be the biggest and best ambassadors of the event. If you give the volunteers more than you give the athletes this isn't going to happen.

As far as the gripe about waiting to start the race, I'm not buying. We are still trying to determine the best team for the upcoming games and based on what a quick search provides the Marathon in Rio will be in the 70's. We need to send the athletes that can handle a marathon in those conditions - not marathoners who only run well when it's 40 or 50. (Remember Athens 2004? Beijing 2008?) The same goes for fluids & fuel on the course. Provide what will be available in the upcoming Games and let the athletes figure it out.

Olympic Trials Athlete wrote:

Although they never mentioned extra water on the course, I just assumed there would be. That is on me. I should have asked, and been aware of that. I think one more station could have made a big difference. I was pouring a lot of my water on me to try and cool off. It would dry very quickly though in that dry air. My mouth felt like a desert the whole time. I never cramped, which was the only saving grace.

Congrats on qualifying and finishing the Oly Trials.

There seemed to be a lot of construction on the course.....I saw a 6 foot tall pole in the road with a cone on it, in the middle of the course? Was it too "technical" of a course and how did that final hairpin turn treat you?

If you were running the Olympic Marathon Trials and have never run a marathon in sub-2:15 (for men) or sub-2:30 (for women), then, sorry, you had no legitimate chance at winning the race or making the Olympic Team. (Rupp notwithstanding, but he gets an exception for having run sub-27 for a 10K.)

Some people might respect you for trying. Some people may view you as a "wannabe" and a "hobby-jogger." Neither of them are wrong. In the end, all you have is your attitude towards it. Either you're proud of your accomplishment, or you let other people shame you over it.

What is really amusing about this is that all of these people in the Marathon Trials would win 95% of the races out there, or at least finish top 3 if they entered. They're used to the external validation of being on the podium, and have probably had that all their lives. Turns out it's pretty difficult to stomach having dozens of people finish ahead of you, and having to hear comments about being a "wannabe." I'd love to know if anybody had a changed perception of either themselves or running after their Trials experience.

As far as the gripe about waiting to start the race, I'm not buying. We are still trying to determine the best team for the upcoming games and based on what a quick search provides the Marathon in Rio will be in the 70's. We need to send the athletes that can handle a marathon in those conditions - not marathoners who only run well when it's 40 or 50. (Remember Athens 2004? Beijing 2008?) The same goes for fluids & fuel on the course. Provide what will be available in the upcoming Games and let the athletes figure it out.

That's a good point. I can accept that. I'm not sure if the Rio water set up is the same, but if it is then I agree. I'm pretty confident the start time was based on tv and not simulating Rio conditions. Regardless of intent though, I concede you make a good point. Trust me, I want the best USA team possible out there. I will be cheering my a-- off for the Red White and Blue in Rio.

It seems simple really. Throw these athletes some love and set the race up to provide the country with the best team for the course/conditions they will face in the upcoming Games.

Officially, this race is to determine who is going to be on the Olympic team. Unofficially, this is the Olympics for everyone else in the race. For the athletes not going to the Olympics we really should treat them more elite-ly than described, as unlike an entry to Boston or Kona that can be purchased - you have to earn your spot in this race. When they go home they should be the biggest and best ambassadors of the event. If you give the volunteers more than you give the athletes this isn't going to happen.

As far as the gripe about waiting to start the race, I'm not buying. We are still trying to determine the best team for the upcoming games and based on what a quick search provides the Marathon in Rio will be in the 70's. We need to send the athletes that can handle a marathon in those conditions - not marathoners who only run well when it's 40 or 50. (Remember Athens 2004? Beijing 2008?) The same goes for fluids & fuel on the course. Provide what will be available in the upcoming Games and let the athletes figure it out.

I be Jamin wrote:...USATF's job isn't to make your feel better, it's to chose the athletes for the Olympic marathon...

But that's not their only job, it is also in their best interest to grow the competitive side of the sport so that the USA develops athletes who are more competitive internationally. That's not just about Rupp/Meb/Ward/Cragg/Linden/Flanagan you never know which of these 400+/- athletes is going to make major breakthroughs the next 4-8 years. I would be shocked if we don't see somebody who finished outside the top group develop into a world class competitor in the years to come. And maybe that same racer is somebody that one of the USATF officials/administrators brushed off this year. There's just no need to take that kind of attitude.

To the athletes commenting on here - thank you!! As an RD who was out on the course spectating Saturday your insights have a lot of value to me. And thanks to all of you who toed the line and gave it your best Saturday, you are an inspiration! You should have heard some of the comments from the less knowledgeable spectators (I was down around 30th St most of the race), they were amazed at what they were seeing.

Can we revisit the logo regulations? This was my first trials and I was shocked at the ridiculous logo rules. the size logo they allow for is far, far too small to be recognized from more than 10 meters away. Why would someone want to sponsor me? In the UNLIKELY event that I somehow made it on the camera (Tyler Mccandless style), no one could tell what the f*** was on my singlet if my logo was compliant.

At uniform check the staff were quick with the statement: "We dont make these rules, this is the USOC!". BS! They are USATF and they have the power to stand up for their athletes. USOC isnt just going to ditch USATF. Why doesnt USOC enforce these rules in other sports? Triathlon is over the top with sponsors.

Don't get me wrong, I do not want to see athletes turn into human NASCARs like Tri, but the current regulations are absolute madness. it's a waste of time and money, it pushes sponsors out of the sport, and it pisses off athletes. It just reeks of nike-driven corruption.

I think we really needed to see an athlete finish WAY up high and then get busted for having a little logo on his sock or his singlet logo being 1cm too big then blow that shit up on social media. That's the only way to make the masses aware of this madness.

1. The medal was cool. Pretty sure I mentioned that in my positive section which you might not have read since you seem to focus solely on my negatives.

2. I agree I should not care. I am human though and in the moment it did bother me. It's not like I confronted the guy and made a seen. I just reported how I felt. Where did I say lesser runners? I just re-read my post and can't seem to find it? Saying I won a race doesn't automatically mean everyone behind me is a lesser runner. That seems to be a stretch on your part. There is always someone faster. That is why we call it a race. Again, I just think that was a class less move.

I need to clarify also that I don't know that a USATF, person made those comments. The guy was just in an area where he needed credentials.

+1 I totally agree and I am definitely one of the people in the last paragraph of the post. I always think it's great to get a ego check every now and then. I was reminded that, while being relatively good at running, I am not the best, and a long way from the best. I wish a lot more runners would honestly confront that, at least for their own mental health.

Most are blaming some sort of out-of-their hands sort of circumstance, which is legitimate at this race, but 150 out the 160 some guys on the start line had 100% no chance.

Personally, I feel i'm relatively well adjusted to this stuff, I went into the race not particularly excited as I knew I'd get my ass beat, and since it was hot, not even get a shot to PR. Still, it did make me think about why in the world I'm trying so hard to be an elite runner, when I'm going to be a mile behind the winners in the OT. I suppose you could insert some motivational epithet about giving your all and trying your best and so on, but really, I enjoy the sport, and am not afraid to mix it up to try to win a race of any size and maybe get even get noticed on LetsRun. You don't have to be a complete narcissist, but it seems to help.

that's a fair point. I conceded. however the OP said it was a "credentialed" commentator. I'm not sure if that was a USATF official or some body just in the area Nor did the OP say if it was 1 person or multiple people. I guess the USATF can't be 100% responsible for off handed comments from some credential people.

Olympic Trials Athlete wrote:

2. I agree I should not care. I am human though and in the moment it did bother me. It's not like I confronted the guy and made a seen. I just reported how I felt. Where did I say lesser runners? I just re-read my post and can't seem to find it? Saying I won a race doesn't automatically mean everyone behind me is a lesser runner. That seems to be a stretch on your part. There is always someone faster. That is why we call it a race. Again, I just think that was a class less move.

I thought you said you cheer people at races who aren't as good as you?

Memphian wrote:

The same goes for fluids & fuel on the course. Provide what will be available in the upcoming Games and let the athletes figure it out.

I don't buy this argument for several reasons.

1. I don't think the course complied with IAAF regulations and am looking into this further. My understanding is that USATF and IAAF rules say there should be fluids every 5k. From what I keep hearing about this course, the placement of the single fluid station on this course meant that the athletes the athletes hit the station, went 2 miles, hit it again, then had a 4 mile stretch until they hit it again. Maybe someone who was there can make a map on mapmyrun or something and get more exact distances for me?

2. Adding additional water bottles on a hot day is not going to get some slow person on the team. Give me a freaking break. The only outcome of the race it will change is less dropouts and less athletes needing to get IV fluids after the race. God forbid we consider the safety of the athletes in this equation.

3. Don't promise coaches and athletes at the technical meeting the day before that you are going to have water bottles at the north station and then NOT DO IT. That's absolutely unprofessional and ridiculous.

As you can tell by my username, I am not a marathon expert. Is it normal for someone like Galen Rupp to be sucking water out of a towel during a marathon? Is that considered OK to have wet towels and sponges instead of water bottles? I'm not being snarky, I want to know what marathon people think...

I be Jamin wrote:

Olympic Trials Athlete wrote:

2. I agree I should not care. I am human though and in the moment it did bother me. It's not like I confronted the guy and made a seen. I just reported how I felt. Where did I say lesser runners? I just re-read my post and can't seem to find it? Saying I won a race doesn't automatically mean everyone behind me is a lesser runner. That seems to be a stretch on your part. There is always someone faster. That is why we call it a race. Again, I just think that was a class less move.

I thought you said you cheer people at races who aren't as good as you?

I said not as fast as me. That is a measurable fact not a put down. Trust me there are a lot of people faster than me, and if they said it I wouldn't be a offended. Calling someone a wannabe is a put down. There is a difference.

To your points:

1. I agree that the unusual spacing of the aid stations is/was problematic. Let's hope the Olympic marathon is run a bit more smoothly.

2. Having additional water available is always fine. (I imagine properly spacing the stations as addressed in point 1 would help this greatly.) I'd still be cautious about any other allowances.

3. I couldn't agree more.

Re: the towels - Athlete's should be consuming water from bottles / cups, not from towels. That's definitely not ideal - borderline negligent.