IT’S easy to get lost in Central Park. The trails and hills wind endlessly, the Ramble is, well, rambling, and all paths are filled with joggers and maniacal roller-bladers. It’s not unusual to wander over to the West Side when you meant to go east; Central Park South when you wanted to head north. But today, the roads will have one very clear destination: Beijing. The 2008 Olympic Games, that is.
For the first time ever, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Men’s Marathon will invade Gotham, bringing with it as much blood, sweat, tears and chaos as the 38th annual ING New York City Marathon that will take place a mere 24 hours later.
Sure, winning the Marathon is a big deal – but earning a trip to China to represent your country – which is what the top three Olympic runners are granted – isn’t exactly a shabby parting gift.
“There’s no question . . . if I qualify, this will be the greatest achievement of my life,” says Ryan Shay, a 28-year-old Michigan native who didn’t qualify back in 2004 due to hamstring problems.
“I’ve raced in N.Y. before, and I can’t wait to feel all of the energy and excitement the crowd and the atmosphere provides. It’s special here.”
As hosts, the New York Road Runners designed the 26.2-mile race. They wanted to make it a spectator-friendly event.
So they constructed the Trials course, which begins in Rockefeller Center and follows multiple loops through Central Park, ending at Tavern on the Green. Fans will be able to catch a glimpse of the 132 runners up to 10 times during the race – a total opposite of the intense crowd control effort required to root on Marathon-running pals on Sunday.
Clint Verran, another Michigan native, is excited about the fan participation – but not the hilly terrain that awaits his legs.
“There’s like 10 huge hills that can break you down really quick,” says the 32-year-old, who has been preparing for the challenge by running upwards of 140 miles a week. He even snuck in a road trip to the city earlier last month for a simulated run on the course.
Verran and Shay may be underdogs in a field that that includes 13 former Olympians, including 2004 silver medalist Meb Keflezighi – but you certainly couldn’t detect that by their smiles. Both are completely caught up in the moment, which not only includes their big race – but the Marathon, as well.
Verran – who won the Columbus Distance classic Half-Marathon after placing third in the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half-Marathon – has a serious rooting interest.
Last December, Verran and his wife, Christie, visited the Big Apple for New Year’s Eve. During a small race held in Central Park, Christie met a woman who struck up a conversation with her regarding tomorrow’s gigantic event. What Christie didn’t know was the woman was NYRR CEO and President Mary Whittenberg – who gave her an invitation on the spot.
“She’s ready! She ran her first half-marathon two weeks ago in Detroit and finished nine minutes earlier than she expected to,” says Verran, who helped to set up a training program for his wife. “This weekend is going to be so exciting for us.”
Shay, who’s been training in the high altitude of Flagstaff, Ariz., the last 14 weeks, has already decided to take part in the festivities tomorrow regardless of where he finishes today.
“There’s nothing like basking in the suffering of runners going through a race,” he says with a laugh. “I may even eat a few Snickers bars and drink a few beers in front of them.”
He plans on sticking around and catching the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” next week. Indeed, Shay will be able to practice speed and agility moving through Midtown as the holiday season hits and sidewalk navigation becomes its own kind of sport.
But Jason Hartmann, yet another Michigan-born entry, won’t be heading to Tavern on the Green unless he’s standing on the winner’s platform this afternoon.
“I may not even make it back to my hotel,” says the 26-year-old with a smile. “But seriously, this is such an amazing opportunity. The reward completely outweighs the difficulty of the race. To be able to represent my country would be such an amazing honor. I really hope I’m able to do that.”
Barring that, he’d just like to catch a Broadway play for the first time and hit Times Square with a vengeance.