| The qualifying standards for the men's US Olympic | | | | time standards. Those have moved up and down |
| Marathon Trials have been changed and no longer | | | | over the years as necessary to provide a quality field |
| differentiate between an "A" qualifying standard or a | | | | for the trials. The largest change has to do with |
| "B" qualifying standard. Had the new rules been in | | | | which race courses can be used to qualify for the |
| place for the 2008 trials, the field of 179 qualifiers | | | | trials. |
| would have been reduced to 69 qualifiers. | | | | Race courses can no longer have a net elevation loss |
| The former standards called for a 2:20 "A" standard | | | | of more than 1 meter per kilometer (or 42.195 |
| or a 2:22 "B" standard in the marathon on any USATF | | | | meters over the course of a marathon) and the |
| certified course. You could also obtain a "B" qualifying | | | | finish line can not be located farther than 30% of the |
| race by running better than 28:45 10k or a 13:40 5k. | | | | race distance from the starting line. That means that |
| The new standards remove the ability to qualify with | | | | popular races such as the Austin Freescale Marathon |
| a 5k at all, and reduce the 10k qualifying time to | | | | can no longer be used for entry into the Trials. |
| 28:30 or better. However, a half marathon of 1:05:00 | | | | Exceptions have been made for the New York City |
| or better can now be used as a qualifier. To qualify | | | | and Boston Marathons, which do not meet the new |
| by running a marathon, you will have to run a 2:19:00 | | | | standards. Exceptions have also been made for the |
| or better which is a full minute on the previous "A" | | | | other races that are included in the world marathon |
| standard. There will no longer be any "A" or "B" | | | | majors over the next 3 years, which will also be |
| qualifiers; anyone that qualifies for the trials will have | | | | counted as valid qualifying races. |
| their expenses paid in order to race. | | | | Qualifying times need to be run in 2010 or 2011 for a |
| The standards for the women haven't changed | | | | runner to be allowed into the Trials, which will take |
| nearly as much. The "A" standard remains the same | | | | place in Houston in early 2012. Both the men and |
| at 2 hours and 39 minutes. The "B" standard is a | | | | women will have their Trials on the same course on |
| minute faster at 2:46:00, and still includes a 33 minute | | | | the same weekend, so there will no longer be as |
| 10,000 meter run on a track. A half marathon of | | | | huge of a lag or as short of a recovery time as |
| 1:15:00 can now also be used as a "B" standard. | | | | there was for the 2008 Olympics. |
| The biggest change, however, is not the change in | | | | |