Posted: October 31, 2007

Athletics: U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon notes: Central Park Loop

New York Road Runners' Central Park Loop notes Did You Know?This is the first time that three U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon qualifiers have run 2:09 or faster in the qualifying time window: Khalid Khannouchi (2:07:04), Ryan Hall (2:08:24), and Abdi Abdirahman (2:08:56).Khannouchi and Hall's times are the fastest two qualifying times ever for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon.For the first time since Frank Shorter in 1976, a male qualifier, Meb Keflezighi, is a returning Olympic Marathon medalist. Baby Ritz UpdateDathan Ritzenhein will compete in his first Olympic Trials over the marathon distance just over a month after he and his wife, Kalin, welcomed their first child. Addison Lee Ann Ritzenhein was born on Friday, September 28, at 1:14 p.m. in Eugene, OR. Double vision?This year, identical twins Casey and Patrick Moulton have both qualified and will run the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials - Men's Marathon. Location, Location, Location The criterium course for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon will be a spectator's delight. Committed fans can see the runners up to 10 times, depending on where they plan to watch the race. Arrive early if you want to cross the course because you will have very limited access to do so once the race starts. Here are three of the best spots to catch all of the Trials action:(1) The bridle path south of the Reservoir. This is a great place to actively watch the race by running or walking briskly back and forth across the park (approximately four tenths of a mile) from East Drive to West Drive. Enter the bridle path via the 86th Street vehicle underpass between the East and West drives, and you can see the runners up to 10 times if you hustle.(2) The walkway south! of the 97th Street Transverse. This fairly direct route across the park runs just north of the tennis courts and the Reservoir. Enter the park between 96th and 97th streets on either the east or west side. You will be able to see the runners up to 10 times.(3) The walkway that borders the Great Lawn to the south. To access this path, enter the park from the east, just north of East 79th Street, and walk west (the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be on your right), taking the underpass beneath the Trials course; or enter the park from the west, just north of West 81st Street, and cross under West Drive to follow the path slightly north of the Delacorte Theater. You'll be able to see the runners up to 10 times here. * Olympic Trials on Television: If you can't join us in person for the exciting Olympic Trials race, be sure to tune in for the live start on Saturday, November 3, at 7:35 a.m. on NBC's Today Show. The complete race will be streamed on NBCSports.com, and a half-hour highlights show will be aired on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EDT (check local listings for exact time in your area). For more information on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, including updated lists of qualifiers and entrants, visit . Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest