Proposed Course - Start in front of Rockefeller Center at 49th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Athletes will head up the Avenue of Americas to Central Park where they will enter through Columbus Circle and begin the course's criterion loops - one four-mile circuit followed by four identical five-mile circuits, finishing on the Park's west side at the historic Tavern on the Green.

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon

Post-Race Review/ Results

One qualifier is running in his training partner's memory

Ryan Hall experienced the best day of his life and the worst day of his life when he won the 2008 US Men's Olympic Trials Marathon and learned that one of his closest friends had died during the same race.  Hall and his wife were teammates with Ryan Shay's wife when they were at Stanford University.  Hall who is one of the three runners representing the US in Beijing is dedicating his run for Olympic gold to Shay.

Ryan Hall Running for Ryan Shay

Human Interest Story

"Enlarged heart" term can be ambiguous

Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, an expert on cardiac conditions says the chances are "exceedingly small" of cardiac related deaths in runners.

Olympic Trials Marathon tragedy shouldn't worry runners.

Friends and relatives mourned the sudden death of marathon runner Ryan Shay on Sunday, describing him as courageous and passionate about his family and sport.

Hundreds Mourn Fallen Marathoner Ryan Shay

Medical researches are looking for answers in the death of Ryan Shay. Ryan's father, Joe Shay, stated that Ryan was diagnosed with and enlarged heart at 14 and repeatedly cleared by medical doctors to run and compete. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the scientific term for an enlarged hearts is often indiscernible in elite endurance athletes.

Marathon Summary

Marathon Results