Drossin's Going to New York & So Can You

Deena Drossin, who qualified for both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter U.S. Olympic teams and won the U.S. 4K and 8K Cross Country Championships, announced Monday at a New York Road Runners Club tele-press conference, she will make her marathon debut Nov. 4 at the New York City Marathon.

Ranked No. 1 among women in the 2000 U.S. road rankings by USA Track & Field, Drossin also placed first in the Gate River Run 15K (49:40); the Carlsbad 5000 (15:08) and the San Diego Half Marathon (1:13:16). It was time to step up the distance.

"It was a relatively easy decision (to choose New York)," said Drossin, who trains in Alamosa, Colo. "I used to be petrified of the marathon distance, but last year I felt like I was strong enough to take it. So, I gave myself a year to decide which one, and the New York City Marathon seemed right. I remember being 13 and watching it on TV with my dad. I'd say, 'I'll win it someday!'"

Drossin is preparing for the 2001 IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, Canada this summer. Then she'll have three months to fine tune her training for the high-mileage demands of New York.

"I have a taste of what the training will be like. I've run high mileage -- 100 miles a week, so not much will change," said Drossin, supported by Team USA -- a USA Track & Field project designed to aid America's distance running stars. "Training for a marathon parallels training for the 10,000 meters. I think the most significant change will be mental preparation. I also need to relax more and stick to the basics.

"I'm definitely scared and respectful of the distance," added Drossin,, who is sponsored by Asics, also a major sponsor of the New York City Marathon . "The people I train with in Alamosa are marathoners, and I've seen the work they've put in over the years. I'm excited to bring on that challenge."

The 2001 New York City Marathon has been designated the men's and women's USA Track & Field Marathon Championship. There will be $100,000 in prize money at stake, and special performance incentives for American runners.

"We're thrilled to take the national marathon championships to New York City," said USA Track & Field CEO Craig Masback ,during the press conference. "It has the international reputation that our runners desire. (And we're pleased) that one of our greatest distance runners has chosen New York as her debut."

"It's a marriage made in heaven," added New York City Marathon director Allan Steinfeld. "After the Olympic trials, we thought our athletes needed this opportunity. We want the best American athletes to come here. And we hope Deena does extremely well."

Drossin will be keeping an online journal about training for New York. Click on her Web site at: http://www.deenadrossin.com