new york city marathon

NYC Marathon Canceled: How Runners Inspire & Move Post Hurricane Sandy

Written on November 4, 2012 at 11:29 pm , by Jenna Autuori

New York Runners in Support of Staten Island meeting at the ferry!

As a runner and part of the tight-knit New York City running community, I was conflicted that the famous ING NYC Marathon would still be on after Hurricane Sandy made her way through our state roaring her ugly head. I ran my first marathon, in the city I love only last year and the long, early morning training runs are still very fresh in my head. I’ll forever be a NYC marathoner. Training for a marathon is a monumental feat, one that requires more than one knows he or she can handle. So I can only imagine the frustration, anxiety and wave of emotions that a possible never-before cancellation of the race might have had on me if I were running in this year’s event. The New York City Marathon, the largest marathon in the world and undoubtedly the most famous 26.2 miles you’ll ever run, is the New York Road Runner’s premiere event and rakes in on average $340 million every year. The large paycheck takes care of the event’s ever-growing costs to put it together, as well helping produce the NYRR other signature races and charity organizations that go on throughout the four seasons. A cancellation of this event would be a huge blow to the future of the NYRR, as well as business’ all over the city. With more than 20,000 out-of-towners making the trek to the Big Apple for the race, a cancellation during our city’s biggest disaster, outside of 9/11, could very well be an economically poor decision.

However, news on Wednesday that the race would indeed go on, despite Hurricane Sandy relief efforts needed in so many neighborhoods, hurt so many more people than the NYRR had hoped it would help in the wake of the superstorm. New Yorkers were outraged that holding the race and using resources like volunteers, generators, and simple things like bottles of water, would benefit runners and not those affected by the devastation. There were areas in Staten Island that had yet to even receive assistance, and with the marathon’s starting line on Staten Island’s border, New York runners were unsure about stepping foot over the bridge and leaving briskly without lending a helping out. Runners with a golden ticket to Sunday’s race were offering to defer their spot until 2013, realizing that this year’s race was surely not going to be the same. So when the marathon was eventually cancelled at the eleventh hour, the community of New York City runners, led by sports medicine doctor Jordan Metzl, decided to put their energy—and miles logged—to good use. They would run their way through Staten Island, carrying necessities and goods that families were in need of, and deliver door to door to those areas most affected by the wrath of Sandy.

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Fit Links: Hurricane Sandy and the New York City Marathon

Written on November 2, 2012 at 11:50 am , by Marianne Magno

The ING NYC Marathon is now called the Race to Recover. Good idea?

The northeast was badly affected by Hurricane Sandy this week. We hope everyone is safe and keep you in our thoughts.

• How you can help Hurricane Sandy victims. — Blisstree
• New Yorkers, where you can volunteer this weekend. – Brokelyn 
• Power outage food safety: What to toss and what’s safe to eat. -- Huffington Post
• The decision to hold the ING New York City Marathon after Hurricane Sandy divides the city. — New York Times
•  ”Why I’m Still Running the New York City Marathon” A runner shares her thoughts.  – Erica Miss America

• Your turn: What do you think? Should the ING NYC Marathon go on? Tell us in the comments below.