NY Marathon cancelled

[DougG]

I just heard that the marathon has been cancelled because of the storm damage.Sports net reported this, NBC first reported it.

[ceileigh]

I am still shocked ... glad I did not go. So sorry for those who did and are out the $. I understand cancelling but the timing could have been better

[jonovision_man]

Crazy, they should have done this before people started heading over there!

http://espn.go.com/new-york/olympics/st ... d-concerns

jono

[Doonst]

debacle

[ceileigh]

In a way it gets the mayor the best of both worlds. The runners, for the most part, are there and stuck now. They will spend the money in town that he said would be such a help.So he gets that part of what he wanted. And he cancels the marathon which gets him the respect from the locals who wanted that too and avoids the antagonism.

The correct decision would have been to cancel this Monday or Tuesday and allow runners to re group and save the expense and prevent the stress and antagonism in the first place.

Sorry Mr Bloomberg, I am really not impressed.

So so sorry for my fellow maniacs who are already in New York City.

[URG]

Wow! Been following it all week, and although I feel it was a good decision, it should have been done last Monday or Tuesday. I was shocked to hear it a few minutes ago so late in the day. Even now, there isn't an official posting on the NYC Marathon site.

[Stampie]

Wow, that is one quick about face. This morning Bloomberg is on record as saying the race will go on and now, cancelled. The decision is a right one, but should have been made earlier IMHO.

I feel sorry for the participants who have vest training time, travel and money into this weekend. And what happens to those people who deferred there entry to next year at the last minute? (i.e. Andy)

[ian]

Wow. I think I'll go with the "worst of both worlds", as many runners and locals are undoubtedly going to be incensed with the waffling. To be fair, this was probably a no-win situation and had the storm been a few days earlier or later, the decision would have been clearer. Nevertheless, count on hundreds of thousands of people willing to try to get in to next year's race.

[alexk]

Just heard this news while driving my girls home from swimming and my heart sank . So sorry for all of you who have travelled to NY, knowing your experience might be different than first anticipated, but still expecting to run a marathon. I feel especially sad for those of you who would be running your first - that just sucks! It's hard to accept things that are beyond our control but that's what we do and we move on, of course. I know it's just a marathon (things can always be worse and are for those living through the storm's destruction) but it was still such an important and meaningful goal/milestone for so many people.

Thinking of you all at this "crappy" time and hoping you can still embrace the excitement and energy that defines NYC. Take care.

[Jwolf]

Wow. Was not expecting that, although they kept saying it could still happen.

And still no official update on the marathon webpage.

[URG]

Reading some Twitter feeds, it seems that Mary Wittenberg NYRR has gone on to say the race will not be rescheduled.

What a mess. I can't think of a worse scenario right now.

[mas_runner]

Wow, this has everything to do with $$$s. Should have been cancelled days ago. Shameful!

[Tisha]

In a way it gets the mayor the best of both worlds. The runners, for the most part, are there and stuck now. They will spend the money in town that he said would be such a help.So he gets that part of what he wanted. And he cancels the marathon which gets him the respect from the locals who wanted that too and avoids the antagonism.

The correct decision would have been to cancel this Monday or Tuesday and allow runners to re group and save the expense and prevent the stress and antagonism in the first place.

Sorry Mr Bloomberg, I am really not impressed.

So so sorry for my fellow maniacs who are already in New York City.

Couldn't have said it better, ceileigh. This should have been done with enough time for people to cancel their travel arrangements and not be out the bucks.

[IronGoddess]

WOW!!!

[purdy65]

Wow. I'm going to try to not be cynical and just say that Bloomberg mad a bad... Very bad decision earlier in the week and cost the runners thousands I feel so bad for them

[jonovision_man]

The only bright side - if everyone is pissed off, it might be easier to get in next year...

Too soon?

jono

[Jo-Jo]

In a way it gets the mayor the best of both worlds. The runners, for the most part, are there and stuck now. They will spend the money in town that he said would be such a help.So he gets that part of what he wanted. And he cancels the marathon which gets him the respect from the locals who wanted that too and avoids the antagonism.

The correct decision would have been to cancel this Monday or Tuesday and allow runners to re group and save the expense and prevent the stress and antagonism in the first place.

Sorry Mr Bloomberg, I am really not impressed.

So so sorry for my fellow maniacs who are already in New York City.

Couldn't have said it better, ceileigh. This should have been done with enough time for people to cancel their travel arrangements and not be out the bucks.

How I feel.

[URG]

The FB NYC marathon page and official website just posted a cancellation notice.

I just hope something good comes out of this who fiasco....perhaps lots of out of town volunteers over the wknd to help clean up.

Here's a thought....if you have a race bib, frame it...makes a nice souvenir of the biggest running race event that never was-

[chunkymonkeymelonhed]

This decision should have been made early this week.

It is the right decision but was left too late. There is no way the mayor should have considered trying to pull this event off when he still has citizens without power, water, food, housing. It would have been a slap in the face of all those who are suffering. The manpower and resources are needed elsewhere right now.

I am sorry for those runners who have made the trip for naught.

[ChrisL]

I am shocked. All that training. As other said, they should have cancelled it earlier.

Actually, I blame Andy. He decide to defer, then they cancel the marathon. Are they cancelling the Goofy too...

[Tisha]

I am shocked. All that training. As other said, they should have cancelled it earlier.

Actually, I blame Andy. He decide to defer, then they cancel the marathon. Are they cancelling the Goofy too...

Oh, now that would be somethin' ....

[jonovision_man]

City of New York and New York Road Runners Announce Race Cancelation
The City of New York and New York Road Runners announce that the 2012 ING NYC Marathon has been canceled. While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division. We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event -- even one as meaningful as this -- to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to help New York City recover from the storm. New York Road Runners will have additional information in the days ahead and we thank you for your dedication to the spirit of this race. The Expo will remain open tomorrow.

[oink]

Sorry for those that have made the trip, but when you read the quote below from the New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg r in regards to the cancellation:, you kind of see that it makes sense

The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it.

We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track

Also, with many people still without power and needing manpower to restore crucial services, tying up resources that would be needed for the race instead of being used in recovery efforts was perceived by many to be an insult and waste of effort.

Oh...Goofy is not till January though

[jonovision_man]

Sorry for those that have made the trip, but when you read the quote below from the New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg r in regards to the cancellation:, you kind of see that it makes sense

The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it.

We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track

Also, with many people still without power and needing manpower to restore crucial services, tying up resources that would be needed for the race instead of being used in recovery efforts was perceived by many to be an insult and waste of effort.

But they also say this...

While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort

And sprinkle their statement with words like "perceived" - basically saying they wouldn't have diverted resource so it's just optics that resulted in the cancellation?? That makes it worse!

jono

[Irongirl]

I just read a quote from Mary Wittenberg saying that they had to cancel before everyone traveled there tomorrow.

Huh? All the international participants are already there or on their way!