In a stroke of genius, the New York Road Runners and US Track and Field have decided to stage the Olympic Marathon trials in NYC, the day before the NYC Marathon. So the road to Beijing runs through Central Park this year, on the same hills that we have all suffered through all these years.

The course will be a criterium-style course in Central Park that will start in Rockefeller Plaza and finish near Tavern on the Green. The criterium loop in Central Park will be the reverse of the loop used when NYRR hosted the USA 8 km Championships from 2002 to 2004. Athletes will run the loop five times, with distance added to complete the full 42.195 km of the marathon.

If you can make it out to Central Park on Saturday November 3rd, you are sure to see a fantastic race. How often do you get to see the top male athletes compete for a spot in the Olympics? Remember, do not forget to cheer

USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA, USA