It was over before it began...

As I'm sure you are all aware, the 2012 NYC Marathon was canceled yesterday among growing controversy and concern.  While I am clearly upset, I agree with the decision to 100%. As the marathon approached and the state of devastation remained, I admit to a growing internal battle as to if this race should be held. Like many others, I was reassured by the words of Mayor Bloomberg that the marathon was not diverting resources and would serves as a unifying event for the city. As my post yesterday indicated, I justified the race as an opportunity to show the resilience of the human spirit. I truly did believe that the race would bring a bit of joy and a much needed distraction. Clearly this was not the case and I believe the right decision has been made. Aside from my obvious disappointment at not getting to run, I am mostly angry about the inexplicably bad timing of the announcement. Clearly the race should have been canceled on Tuesday morning and not Friday when the vast majority of the field had arrived. I incurred a fairly significant expense to get here, but I'm sure it pales in comparison to what others have faced. Every runner has a story about why they are running and what this race meant to him or her. Each story is equally important and the cancellation will be felt for a long time to come.  I actually consider myself one of the lucky ones because of my own beautiful family that lives here and I can enjoy spending time with them in the coming days. 

I choose to move forward and not dwell on what might have been. What's done is done and everyone needs to refocus their energy to restoring New York and New Jersey. Tomorrow, what would have been marathon Sunday, I will join fellow marathoners on a run through Staten Island where we will run while distributing much needed relief items. I hope this will provide a source of much needed goodwill between the running community and the city of New York. 

https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkRunnersInSupportOfStatenIsland

Many of my friends and family donated to Team Continuum as a part of my marathon journey. With their help I raised over $5,500 in support of this amazing and worthwhile cause.  I, and Team CAN, are extremely grateful for this support. To honor these pledges and my commitment to running 26.2 for Team CAN (and for my own sanity), I have decided to run the Las Vegas Marathon on December 2nd. While this race clearly does not have the history, prestige or "magic" of NYC, it will have to suffice as a suitable replacement.  

Thank you all again for your continued support and well wishes. My heart is full.

NYC Marathon...prelude

I’ve had a terrible knot in my stomach for the past five days as my mind and heart grapple with the events that have unfolded. I will tell you now that I have made my decision and I will be running the marathon on Sunday. This decision has not come easily or lightly and I feel that I needed to write this post both for my own therapy and to respond to the community at large who are either for or against the race being held.

Should they have canceled the marathon? Maybe. Actually, yes, they probably should have. But they didn’t and the city is passionately divided.  I get it.  I understand why people are furious at the thought of holding such a massive and demanding event just days after Sandy’s devastation. People are experiencing tremendous lose and unimaginable hardship. My heart aches for those people.  Unless you are one of those, no one can possible understand what it is they are facing.

And yet, despite the obvious controversy and less obvious benefit, Mayor Bloomberg made the decision that the race was to go on. For my own sake and the sake of the city, I have to believe that this decision was made in the best interest of everyone. He’s not the kind of guy that pussy foots around or pulls punches, so if he really didn’t think the race was a good idea, I know he would not have given the go ahead. That said, I’m certain his decision was nearly 100% financial, but in no way malicious or disrespectful. I do believe he thinks the race will provide much needed influx of dollars and, hopefully, bring some cheer, camaraderie and a bit of lightness back to the streets.

Like I said, I get why this is so upsetting for some. I truly, truly do.  But please don’t blame the runners. We are not trying to make it harder on the people of New York. We simply pursuing our passion and have worked too damn hard to get here. But many, if not all, runners recognize the gift we are receiving and are extend are gratitude. At it’s most superficial level, running a marathon is an entirely selfish endeavor.  But I would argue that is not the case. Many runners are running for local charities and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for causes that are much bigger than us. Many are running in honor of someone they’ve lost or are losing. Many are running to show their children what can be accomplished with enough hard work and belief if yourself. Many are running simply to fulfill a promise to themselves. And while the reasons for toeing the line on Sunday are many, I can guarantee you that every single runner has the city of New York and the shores of New Jersey in their hearts and on their minds. We are grateful and humbled for the opportunity to run the race this year.

For those of you that continue to seethe, I apologize on behalf of all marathoners. But I also have a suggestion for you. Why not turn that negative energy into something good? Stop wasting time bitching about why the race should not go on. Stop lambasting the runners and criticizing NYRR and Mayor Bloomberg. AND START HELPING OUT! Step away from Facebook and Twitter and figure out how to volunteer or your money. Don’t watch, support or even acknowledge the marathon. Instead spend those hours donating your time, your money or both. Turn your malevolence into benevolence. It’s better for everyone.

So I will run. I will run because I have worked my ass off to get here and because it really is more than just a race to me. I will run for Team Continuum and my friends and family who donated over $5,000 to this cause on my behalf. I will race for my sister and her family who have suffered through and after this storm.  I will race for New York and New Jersey. And when I’m done, I will roll up my sleeves and do what I can to help.