New York Marathon

Should it be held or cancelled? Seems like a lot of New York citizens are not happy about the decision to go through with it. The sponsors have promised to donate $1.5 million to relief efforts, but I am not sure that a marathon is what the city needs right now.

Any Thoughts?

I think this is one of the worst decisions I can ever remember.

I'm not happy with the decision to hold the race, and I deferred. Sandy was the final nail in the coffin that had been telling me not to run for a while - so I was just pushed over the edge. However, the pictures coming out of Staten island and other places are heart-wretching. I have a runner friend who lives in Galveston which was devastated after Ike and she tells me that she cannot imagine holding a race just days after. I'm sorry but this is not like post-9/11 or even Mardi Gras in NO post Katrina (several months). Displaced NYers and utility workers sent in are being put out of their hotels for marathoners arriving. I know there are lots of foreign runners already there, but I bet they would have understood. There are several protest groups forming on FB by runners.

Now, since they will hold the race, I do hope that the residents don't hold too much ill will towards the runners, but it is going to happen.

I guess we'll see how it goes Sunday. RIght now I don't really see an issue. It's obviously got the buy-in from the city (mayor) and police. It's a weekend so most people will not compete for the same resources. It will bring in plenty of money and my guess is raise a lot of money for the cause there through additional donations.

What about this John?

http://12160.info/forum/topics/bloomberg-diverts-food-generators-from-devastated-staten-island?xg_source=activity

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:What about this John?

http://12160.info/forum/topics/bloomberg-diverts-food-generators-from-devastated-staten-island?xg_source=activity

I grant you there will be situations that are going to be questioned. In looking at this blog, I see that the theme of it is "RESISTING THE NEW WORLD ORDER". It's got other topcis such as:

Military Takes Over Election Day in New Jersey

Martial law authorized in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania!

So I woudl take posts from this blog with a grain of salt myself.

THIS RACE SHOULD BE CANCELLED!! I think it sad and pathetic that the City of New York is running this race!! They are still finding dead bodies, people don't have power, people can't get gas. And the city is going to clean-up the route for some stupid race for a people to run marathon!!

How about taking all the water and food from the marathon and giving it out to the families and people that need it!!! How about leaving the hotels open to the people that have lost their homes?

Sorry but this is not the time to have a marathon for a bunch of runners running around a city. If there ever was a time or a reason not to have a race and turn all these efforts to helping and cleaning up the area it is now. JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE!! How can anyone think of running a marathon in a place that just had this happen.

If I was entered in this race I would say keep my money for my entry and give it to the people to help get them back on their feet. I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

In my mind there is time and place to run a race and there is a time and place when other things are more important. To me now would be a time that my attention would be focused else were to help people and clean up a American city (which by the way I have never been big on NY) but in this case this is sad and help is needed!!!

Schuey wrote:THIS RACE SHOULD BE CANCELLED!! I think it sad and pathetic that the City of New York is running this race!! They are still finding dead bodies, people don't have power, people can't get gas. And the city is going to clean-up the route for some stupid race for a people to run marathon!!

How about taking all the water and food from the marathon and giving it out to the families and people that need it!!! How about leaving the hotels open to the people that have lost their homes?

Sorry but this is not the time to have a marathon for a bunch of runners running around a city. If there ever was a time or a reason not to have a race and turn all these efforts to helping and cleaning up the area it is now. JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE!! How can anyone think of running a marathon in a place that just had this happen.

If I was entered in this race I would say keep my money for my entry and give it to the people to help get them back on their feet. I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

In my mind there is time and place to run a race and there is a time and place when other things are more important. To me now would be a time that my attention would be focused else were to help people and clean up a American city (which by the way I have never been big on NY) but in this case this is sad and help is needed!!!

+1,000,000! I couldn't have said it better myself.

Look, I understand that there is no obligation on the part of those partaking in the event to forfeit their entries/not show up. However, at least how I was raised, there is a moral obligation (or I would hope so) to help mankind. They are still finding bodies, using local buildings as morgues. The citizens of that state are digging through dumpsters to find food, for God's sake.

To me, not only is it a selfish thing on the part of the Mayor of New York and the NYRR, it's disgusting to showcase the destruction and devastation and loss of human life as something "cool" that people can say they ran through. I can see it now, "I ran the NYC Marathon the year of Sandy". To each their own, however, I personally would say take my entry and use that money and ALL OF THE FOOD AND WATER that will be supplied to help those that are struggling - some who have lost everything.

Me personally, I'm happy to say that I will never run a race where I'd be hopping over bodies and tree trunks. It's just a race.

Schuey wrote:I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

Nicely said. Wouldn't it be cool if throngs of runners showed up with boots and work gloves and fanned out into the city to help? Now that would be worth the entry fee.

Schuey wrote:THIS RACE SHOULD BE CANCELLED!! I think it sad and pathetic that the City of New York is running this race!! They are still finding dead bodies, people don't have power, people can't get gas. And the city is going to clean-up the route for some stupid race for a people to run marathon!!

How about taking all the water and food from the marathon and giving it out to the families and people that need it!!! How about leaving the hotels open to the people that have lost their homes?

Sorry but this is not the time to have a marathon for a bunch of runners running around a city. If there ever was a time or a reason not to have a race and turn all these efforts to helping and cleaning up the area it is now. JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE!! How can anyone think of running a marathon in a place that just had this happen.

If I was entered in this race I would say keep my money for my entry and give it to the people to help get them back on their feet. I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

In my mind there is time and place to run a race and there is a time and place when other things are more important. To me now would be a time that my attention would be focused else were to help people and clean up a American city (which by the way I have never been big on NY) but in this case this is sad and help is needed!!!

I think they should postpone it. They would need buy in from the airlines and anyone else who has already taken money from the runners. I understand the economic needs of NYC at this time and the extremely short time that the mayor had to make this very tough decision, but I don't think the money gained from holding the race outweigh the resources needed now to help the victims.

Perhaps one option might have been a course change to minimize police, firefighter, and other volunteer resources taken from many of the other buroughs, e.g. a multi-loop course like the 2008 Olympic trials in Central Park.

As a marathon runner, I could not bear to run a race for fun while others are hurting so badly nearby.

Of course, now that it's Friday afternoon, it's too late to change decisions.

Mark B wrote:

Schuey wrote:I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

Nicely said. Wouldn't it be cool if throngs of runners showed up with boots and work gloves and fanned out into the city to help? Now that would be worth the entry fee.

Diego wrote:
As a marathon runner, I could not bear to run a race for fun while others are hurting so badly nearby.

I agree, Fight Doc!

This just in...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/sports/new-york-city-marathon-will-not-be-held-sunday.html?_r=0

EDIT thanks for posting that Mark!! Good about time!!!

Good to hear it was cancelled. I couldn't believe they would hold it when my dentist told me this morning and sure enough it was on the weather channel that it would go on.
I lived in NW Florida after hurricane Ivan and it was 2 weeks before we had power. I walked outside and begged electricians to stay in our city to help us instead of going to another city (they were trying to find work and came from out of state). It takes months to get through something like this, and even longer. It's just a horrible situation to be in and any healthy person traveling to the area would do well to help with clean up for the months to come.

Yes!!!!! I was eating dinner (at a restaurant in the area of the city that was without power until late yesterday - giving back locally) when my daughter texted me to let me know that the marathon was cancelled. I texted here back - "What took so long!"

about time they cancelled it.

Watching the relief fundraiser on USA and just tried to donate but it's experiencing high volume, will try later.

This is a great decision...too bad it is cancelled and not postponed.

Schuey wrote:THIS RACE SHOULD BE CANCELLED!! I think it sad and pathetic that the City of New York is running this race!! They are still finding dead bodies, people don't have power, people can't get gas. And the city is going to clean-up the route for some stupid race for a people to run marathon!!

How about taking all the water and food from the marathon and giving it out to the families and people that need it!!! How about leaving the hotels open to the people that have lost their homes?

Sorry but this is not the time to have a marathon for a bunch of runners running around a city. If there ever was a time or a reason not to have a race and turn all these efforts to helping and cleaning up the area it is now. JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE!! How can anyone think of running a marathon in a place that just had this happen.

If I was entered in this race I would say keep my money for my entry and give it to the people to help get them back on their feet. I would fly out there still and instead of running a stupid 26.2 miles I would go around and give my help to all the New Yorkers, New Jersey people that need it and help try to comfort people as much as possible.

In my mind there is time and place to run a race and there is a time and place when other things are more important. To me now would be a time that my attention would be focused else were to help people and clean up a American city (which by the way I have never been big on NY) but in this case this is sad and help is needed!!!

I completely agree and am really glad they finally cancelled it. It seems insensitive to have even planned to go ahead with it, and I think the decision should have been made earlier in the week to cancel it. Did you see on the news one of the generators for the race could power 400 homes? I mean, WTF??? If that isn't a gross misuse of resources and sheer lack of compassion for those in need, I don't know what its. I deferred mine til next year but this leaves such a bitter taste....shame on Mary Wittenberg.

It was a joke...sheesh




http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4890156&page=9

I hope everyone who took the time to post about the NYC marathon used the same amount of time to donate resources to the relief effort.

Ben Z wrote:I hope everyone who took the time to post about the NYC marathon used the same amount of time to donate resources to the relief effort.

Why? It's hardly the only worthy cause.

What? The NYCM was canceled? Huh.

Ben Z wrote:I hope everyone who took the time to post about the NYC marathon used the same amount of time to donate resources to the relief effort.

Sorry, that is/was a bit harsh, Ben. I was supposed to run NYC, and I wasn't going to fly in until Saturday anyway, so I would have been able to cancel easily regardless of the late announcement. i have lived through hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, and I had my own issues of no power and lots of storm damage in NE Ohio. To me, it just wasn't right - to others it was so wrong to cancel, and I think we all need to respect both sides and that is why so many gathered to both run "unofficial" races and/or donate time in Staten Island.

By the way, I did donate both to the Red Cross monetarily and with goods (diapers, granola bars, and blankets) that I sent to a friend in Westchester for his displaced parents and their neighbors in Long Beach, NY (between Rockaway and Jones Beach).