It?s a cool concept but I don?t think it?d work. There?s too much prize money at steak in the other races and the best runners probably wouldn?t want to alter their training because it might jeopardize their performance in the big race(s). So, if you figure that a world-class marathoner runs two (maybe three) marathons per year, and that they all run in different races, then where on the calendar would this championship race be placed so that it?s fair to all of the runners? Let?s face it, even though they would be racing half the distance, they?d still have to maintain a training regiment.

Terrible idea if the race-off is a shorter distance race. It's supposed to be the World MARATHON Majors. The elites know the rules, let them run what they need to run. Almost all the races in the series attract very good runners, and the point structure requires consistency in placing high.