The post-Olympic blues are real. Thank goodness marathon season is upon us, bringing a fresh round of international competition to spectate and enjoy.

Many top U.S. runners are slated to compete in the World Marathon Majors against a few of the fastest athletes around the globe. Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein takes another stab in New York, where American record holder Molly Huddle will debut at the distance. Luke Puskedra is scheduled to run Chicago, perhaps avenging that fourth-place finish at the Olympic Trials.

Kara Goucher, his counterpart in that fourth-place position (one away from making the Olympic team), won’t be competing in a marathon this fall, but hopes to be toeing the line in the spring.

Below are the highlights to come in the fall marathon racing season.

Berlin Marathon

When: September 25, 2016

Where: Berlin, Germany

Who’s Racing: Berlin is where the elites go to run fast. Dennis Kimetto set the world record here in 2014 with a time of 2:02:57. In fact the men’s world record has been broken in Berlin seven times. This year Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang, one of the former world-record holders (a 2:03:23 set in 2013), will compete again six others who have personal best times faster than 2:06. Those athletes include Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and the fastest man on the start list, Emmanuel Mutai, who ran 2:03:13 at this race in 2014 for second place. Tsegaye Mekonnen, an Ethiopian who clocked a 2:04:32 in Dubai when he was just 18 years old (he is 21 now) will also compete.

The women’s field is not quite as deep as the men’s, but features Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia, who has won Berlin twice and has a personal best of 2:20.30. Others to watch include Amane Beriso, Birhane Dibaba, and Ruti Aga, all from Ethiopia. Beriso took second in January in Dubai with a 2:20:48.

The race has not announced any Americans in the elite field, but Nick Arciniaga, who placed 10th in February at the marathon trials, is set to compete, he said.

Chicago Marathon

When: October 9, 2016

Where: Chicago

Who’s Racing: It’s another fast, flat course on the World Marathon Majors circuit and this year’s edition could be a quick one. Kimetto, the world record holder, was on the starting list, but organizers announced on Thursday, Sept. 22, that he has dropped out due to injury. Dickson Chumba from Kenya is still slated to start—he took his third victory in Chicago last year and will be joined by Tsegaye Kebede from Ethiopia, the 2012 Chicago Marathon champion. Watch out for Stephen Sambu of Kenya, the 8K world-record holder who is making his debut at the distance.

American men to watch include Luke Puskedra who was fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in February, one spot away from making Team USA. He was the first American with a personal best of 2:10:24 in Chicago last year. Diego Estrada attempted his 26.2-mile debut at the trials, but didn’t finish the race there. He is slated to race in Chicago and hopes it will be his foray into competing at the distance. Estrada competed in the 2012 Olympic 10,000-meters for Mexico (he now competes for the U.S.).

Florence Kiplagat from Kenya is back to defend her title. She’s the world record holder in the half marathon (1:05:09) and has a marathon best of 2:19:44, which she set in 2011 in Berlin. Kiplagat will face Atsede Baysa from Ethiopia, who won the 2016 Boston Marathon in April and was the 2010 and 2012 Chicago champion as well.

American Serena Burla is scheduled to compete as well. She has a personal best of 2:28:01 and raced the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2012 and 2016. Tera Moody and Sarah Crouch are also on the start list.

New York City Marathon

When: November 6, 2016

Where: New York

Who’s Racing: If you’re looking for U.S. talent this fall, New York City Marathon has it in abundance. Molly Huddle, who just set the 10,000-meter American record at the Olympics in August (30:13.17), will make a much-anticipated debut at the distance, as will Kim Conley, a two-time 5,000-meter Olympian. Dathan Ritzenhein will race on the men’s side and seems poised for a comeback of sorts after the two-time Olympian dropped out of the marathon trials in February—he just placed second at the Great North Run half marathon in 1:00:12, the second-fastest of his career.

Ritzenhein’s quest for the podium will be challenging. Stanley Biwott will be back to defend his title. The Kenyan dropped out of the Rio Olympic marathon at halfway, but his credentials are formidable—twice runner up in London and a half marathon best of 58:56. Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia will also compete—he is a two time Boston champion. As will Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea, who was the gold medalist at the 2015 IAAF World Championships marathon at age 19.

Other American men to look for:

Abdi Abdirahman, four-time Olympian

Christo Landry, 2016 U.S. half marathon and 25K champion

Matt Llano, sixth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

Tyler Pennel, fifth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

Ryan Vail, comes with a personal best of 2:10:57 set at the 2014 London Marathon

Huddle and Conley will also run with some of the world’s fastest in their first marathon. Mary Keitany, who has won New York twice in two years, is back. She’s the second-fastest woman in history with a 2:18:37 career best. Keitany is also a mother of two. Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya, who Huddle beat by eight hundredths of a second at the 2016 NYC Half in March, is competing, as is Gladys Cherono, another Kenyan who has a 2:19:25 to her name. The 2015 New York runner-up, Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia, is also back.

Other American women to look for:

Janet Bawcom, 2012 10,000 meter Olympian

Neely Gracy, first American at the 2016 Boston Marathon (her debut at the distance)

Sara Hall, ran her personal best of 2:30:06 at the 2016 London Marathon

Kellyn Taylor, at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials she placed fourth in the 10,000 meters and sixth in the marathon

​Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect changes to the Chicago Marathon's elite field.

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