The Road To Beijing ... Runs Through NYC

For a select few of America's top distance runners, the road to the Beijing Games next year will run through New York this weekend. On November 3, New York Road Runners (NYRR) will play host to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon where these elite athletes will vie for their chance at a spot on the prestigious summer olympic team. The Olympic trials race is turning heads across the nation and around the world, and the mantra for this week is "Americans can run." Lest anyone believe they couldn't??

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.

For an indepth and interesting behind-the-scenes look into the race and its participants, be sure to check out Chasing Glory, a unique seven-week series of videos and text-based commentary leading up to Saturday's event.

From NYRR web site:
"On November 3, 2007, New York Road Runners will host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon in New York City. As part of an unprecedented promotional buildup to the race, which will select the U.S. men’s team for the 2008 Beijing Games, NYRR is proud to present 'Chasing Glory,' a seven-week series of web videos and text-based commentary offering exclusive athlete and coach interviews and insight."

If you're looking for an inspirational story about some of these gifted athletes, read the NY Times article "Team Turns Unsung Runners Into Elite Marathoners" about the Hansons-Brooks Team. Wow, talk about being inspired by a group of 'average' runners and their efforts to bring back the heyday of distance running to America ... sign me up!

Although I won't be able to be there in person to experience this epic race, I'm sure this will be a very exciting event for New York and the thousands of spectators sure to line the course as it winds through Central Park. If you are hoping for a chance to view some of the action yourself, check out the broadcast information below:

Television - Tune in to the live start on Saturday, November 3, at 6:35 a.m. CST on NBC's Today In New York. A half-hour highlights show will be aired on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CST on NBC. (Check local listings for exact time in your area.)

Internet Streaming - On Saturday, November 3rd, it's America's race -- the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon. And on Sunday, November 4th, it's the world's race -- the ING New York City Marathon. Catch all the action LIVE, only on NBCSports.com/Marathon!

Photo by JupiterImages