Anyone remember the last time the trials were held as a stand alone event and not in conjunction with another marathon?
Orlando should host an open marathon that Sunday. Maybe it could help offset the costs. I'd fly down to watch the trials and run a marathon the next day.
Here is our article analyzing the decision. We have included A LOT of weather info. The weather in Orlando should be very similar to what you get in Paris.
Great news for me, I’m 90 minutes West of Orlando. Would love to go spectate.
Accommodations are abundant and affordable as long as you don’t stay in Disney. Even the Ritz Carlton can be as low as $300 per night.
Orlando does have some rolling hills depending where they set up the course, but nothing where you are going to get a couple hundred feet elevation in a mile.
Weather should be great, although even if February, you can get a front with warmer morning temps and humidity.
Seems like a winner to me.
I'm fine with them picking a flatter course as I want the top 3 from the Trials going to the Olympics.
World Athletics rules need to be changed so any country that will send 3 to the Olympics can have a Trials race to pick the team.
$300 for a Ritz Carlton? No way! That's roughly what Jon paid for some rando hotel in NYC.
Agreed on the flat course. It's hard to believe 3rd place will be slower than 2:09. A 2:09 with placing bonus will easily be a high enough ranking to qualify assuming they have a halfway decent second performance (marathon ranking is top two performances). And if there is an auto like the 2:11:30 again then obviously don't need to worry about that. Atlanta was a significantly tougher course and it still took about 2:10 flat to make the team there. I wouldn't be shocked if we see 3rd place at 2:08 and 10 total sub 2:10's in the 2024 trials race with reasonable weather knowing that Orlando is not a hilly place. Rupp/Mantz/Korir/Fauble have all run 2:08 or faster, a couple others on a flat course with the hype of the trials could enter the discussion.
Love to see it. Huge props to the Track Shack team. They helped build up the running community in Orlando and bring tons of energy. Orlando in February will be great for racing. Hoping the course will be in downtown Orl, could make for an electric environment.
Here is our article analyzing the decision. We have included A LOT of weather info. The weather in Orlando should be very similar to what you get in Paris.
Former resident of Orlando here - it will be hot and humid, even in February. Better put those treadmills in a sauna
This was my response. If we are going to go ad-hoc with the marathon course location, could we not find a fair weathered northern alternative that captures the essence of marathoning? New Hampshire, Vermont, upstate New York, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, North Carolina, Northern California, etc. I just feel like Orlando is not the best place for the experience and many places appear before them in a list of ideal cities.
Evidently, my post offended the bath salts and machete lobbies, residents of The Villages, the AARP, and DeSantis voters! LRC clearly cannot take a joke...much like Elon Musk.
I have Albertson ahead of Fauble. Will Fauble be ahead of the injured Rupp? Will an as yet, unknown, step up?
Women:
Has Sharon Lokedi applied for citizenship, and can she get it in time to participate in the trials?
Will Weini Kelati step up to the Thon by then?
Her fiancee, King Ches is going on 13 years in his quest for citizenship, not likely that Sharon will 'earn' hers anytime this decade. Damn illegals! At least they speak English.
But others, like Kipyego and Kelati got citizenship, so 🤷♂️?
Former resident of Orlando here - it will be hot and humid, even in February. Better put those treadmills in a sauna
This was my response. If we are going to go ad-hoc with the marathon course location, could we not find a fair weathered northern alternative that captures the essence of marathoning? New Hampshire, Vermont, upstate New York, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, North Carolina, Northern California, etc. I just feel like Orlando is not the best place for the experience and many places appear before them in a list of ideal cities.
"ad-hoc"??? This decision has been labored over for years now. You do know the summer Olympics are in Paris, oui? Not in Sapporo. I do like your choices tho if we were talking ice sculpting contests.
It can be pretty nice at that time of year but can also be very humid and unpleasant. They can get some hills out a ways from Orlando, but I don't think there's much anywhere near downtown, other than maybe bridge hills, and the Paris course is not going to be flat.