It looks like any remnants will be out of there by Thursday. Even if its a historic storm, NYC should be back to normal by Sunday. I could see Amtrak being an issue for folks traveling on Thursday/Friday if there is a ton of debris on the tracks.

It's looking pretty bad- a couple of the forecast tracks want to put the storm in a place to create the dread funneling scenario up the Husdon River, and low-lying coastal areas could end up pretty fubar.

The question becomes whether the law enforcement & emergency services used in the race are still needed in other areas at that point, and that might be the case here.

I'd also try to change any flights into Newark at this point; it's the airport most likely to resume normal service first.

My dad, an amateur armchair meteorologist, thinks the subway system will flood.

Anything that helps me have a shot at Top100 again, please.

Geez, that's selfish.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

This thread on letsrun.com has a poster claiming that FEMA believes they will cancel the marathon. It is letsrun, so not very reliable, but quite worrisome if true:

http://www.letsrun.com/...d.php?thread=4876723

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

With all the flight cancellations there will be an impact, for sure.

As an event planner myself, I know how much work the week prior to something like the NYC mary is. I am sure glad I am not managing that event. What a nightmare. There is far more to putting that marathon on than what happens on Saturday and Sunday. All the preparations that should be happening this week just are not going to get done. Even if the storm is gone and cleaned up by the weekend, this will be a huge impact on the race. Yikes.

t

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*******************************************
My Blog:
http://www.staggerforwardrejoicing.com
Ultrarunning & Parenting: There is no finish line.

This is good news:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nyc-marathon-organizers-expect-little-effect-from-hurricane-sandy-on-sundays-race/2012/10/29/c9f09da2-21eb-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

As an event planner myself, I know how much work the week prior to something like the NYC mary is. I am sure glad I am not managing that event. What a nightmare. There is far more to putting that marathon on than what happens on Saturday and Sunday. All the preparations that should be happening this week just are not going to get done. Even if the storm is gone and cleaned up by the weekend, this will be a huge impact on the race. Yikes.

This.

Indeed, Yikes

Not so much for Race Day next Sunday, but for all the stuff that will be going on during the week, and then the transportation in of many people will be delayed I am sure. If airports are shut down and all flights in/out cancelled for a day or two, then there is a massive back-log and ripple effect with that.

Heck, I am traveling in the opposite direction - from Toronto to Winnipeg - tomorrow morning, and I there may be problems with my flight. Not because of the weather, but that the plane that was to be used for my flight, is not available as it's stuck in NYC!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

maybe getting rid of bag check will help alleviate the stresses sandy is putting on race staging :)

The <Delayed> transportation of the many people is rather secondary to the decision of whether there is a cancellation/alteration of the race.

The damage of this storm is not even realized yet as we are still several hours away for high tides with record amount of tide surge, the eye hitting land, infrastructure damage etc. Area (s) of the course can be severely damage and not repairable by Sunday.

Plus the placement and priority of the emergency services personnel will probably be elsewhere come Sunday.

Those, IMO, will be the most important factors into if the races is on or not. Whether there in 1 runner than get to the start or 35,000

I'm friends with the Captain of the Coast Guard base on Staten Island, which is the race start. He told me last week that the port-o-johns were already being delivered. 4,000 port-o-johns and 70 MPH winds isn't a good combination. Good thing I'll pre race access to the Captain's house and toilets.

I would bet it doesn't happen.

as of now, the weather was much worse in auckland the week before worlds last week than what manhattan has gotten. this is nothing. just a little wind and rain.

I'll take that bet. I bet it happens. Knowing the NYRR no longer really cares much for the average runner, they'll worry about their bottom line first. If they can do the race and only one person can make it, and they still make money...

Also, 9/11 didn't stop the marathon and the city certainly was feeling the impact marathon morning (which yeah, was not a few days after, but still).

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~~~~~~~~~
Empire Tri Coach
Team Gatorade Endurance
USATF Coach | NYRR Distance Pacer
Dad of twins

it's not nyrr's call. if it were, it would be on with 100% certainty. it's the city's call and the city can tell nyrr it's canceled. 9/11 was 2 months before the nycm so i'm not sure why you are comparing the 2. a better comparison is the freak snowstorm last year that brought down 100s of trees in central park a week before the marathon. the debris were cleaned up and then race went on.

It seems like the NYCM has sent me an e-mail a day for the last 5 months, and this week.....nothing.

I am guessing the race will go on. I'll also go ahead and guess that they'll grant deferments to people that can't get there due to travel disruption (caused by the storm).

These are all pure guesses.

NYC Marathon not expected to be affected by storm
Associated Press
NEW YORK — New York City Marathon organizers expect Hurricane Sandy to have little effect on Sunday's race.
"We're extraordinarily lucky the marathon is not today," New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg said during a conference call Monday as wind and rain started to batter the city.
Instead, she said, "we have time on our side" — enough to prepare the course and for runners to travel to the city after the superstorm passes through.
And if flooding or other damage affects the course or logistics, NYRR has contingency plans every year to adjust to any potential problems.
The route through the five boroughs mostly avoids areas considered at highest risk for flooding. The biggest concerns center on getting entrants their numbers and to the starting line on Staten Island.
The ferry buildings used by about half the runners to travel from Manhattan to the start are in at-risk areas. Many other entrants take buses through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, which could flood. The Javits Center, where runners pick up their numbers, is also in an affected area.
The storm could knock down trees and limbs in Central Park, where the 26.2-mile race finishes. Wittenberg noted that the city was able to clear the park in time for last year's race a week after a freak snowstorm caused extensive damage.
NYRR organizes about 50 events a year and has dealt with obstacles ranging from heavy snow to lightning to security concerns.
"We've been through close to it all," Wittenberg said.
Organizers expect to reschedule flights to get all the elite athletes to New York early. And Wittenberg was confident that most of the nearly 20,000 amateur international runners signed up would eventually make it in time. The hours for number pickup will probably be extended for those who arrive late Saturday.
For runners who can't get to New York, the deadline to withdraw from the race and guarantee a spot in next year's event likely will be pushed back from Wednesday to Saturday. They would still have to pay the entry fee again next year under normal race policy.
The ceremonial finish-line painting scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled, along with a news conference Tuesday. A children's run Thursday has been moved from Central Park to an indoor track, and the pavilion in the park has been taken down for the time being. If power is lost, generators or backup systems are in key locations.
Otherwise, Wittenberg expects race week will look much the same to New Yorkers and competitors. Extra time is always built into planning, and 700 part-time workers and 8,000 volunteers ensure the course can be set up quickly.
"We remain extremely confident we will have an amazing weekend," she said.

I'll do it either way. Might have to start after Verrazano and add a couple miles in the park but if it doesn't happen, I'll need a long run for my alternate race.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Thats an extremely optimistic outlook. I hope it works out but being a resident of the city and seeing whats going on already - before the worst has actually even hit - I highly doubt it will. Highly doubt it. ConEd is shutting off power to lower manhattan in the next hour or two (or immediately). Areas all over the city are already flooded. The problem will be logistics and the simple fact that I have a very low level of confidence that you're going to be able to get people into/out of the city.

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"One Line Robert"

NYC is getting slammed. It sucks not knowing if I am racing in 6 days!!!

I'm 6 blocks from the river in lower Manhattan and we've already got water knee deep and its rising. Most all of lower Manhattan is without power. For all of those in the city, be safe!

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"One Line Robert"

Ha, a 90 degree day for Boston and a hurricane for NYC within six months, crazy couple of marathons!

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Portside Athletics Blog

WSJ on twitter is reporting there is seawater in the subways and auto tunnels, and it could take a week to open up again

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@adamwfurlong

Did Boston and hoping to be running NYC (weather permitting)! Indeed, crazy weather.

If the race is canceled, would the decision be made in the next day or two (I'd hope so, for those traveling to the race)?

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
Coaching: https://bybtricoaching.com/ - accepting athletes for 2023

Not looking good for Sunday. Could they postpone it a week?

Impossible. Completely impossible. Not sure why you think that would be an option. Insane.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

If NYC is happening...

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

I agree but just in case.

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Styrrell

it's 11:15. the roads are dry and there's no wind in manhattan right now. the race will be on so everyone can stop freaking out.

I live in Hawaii, I have to leave tomorrow afternoon to get there with anything resembling adequate rest. it could be pushed back a day or so but after that it's questionable. Not like there's a load of flights to JFK (or LGA if i connect somewhere closer).

Make the decision early.

That's optimistic. Some people won't even have power by Sunday.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

From looking at a map, it appears that the packet pick-up/expo location is in an area that was flooded, any reports?

I agree Uli, it would be impracticable to postpone the race for a latter date. Canceling the event is more likely but that to has serious consequences. I wonder if a scaled down event with an alternate route is what they'll ultimately decide on. They could scale it down by guaranteeing entry for all participants in 2013.

I have an Amtrak ticket for Friday morning (purchased it 7 months ago). I doubt the trains will be working and if they are will be so backlogged that I'll get pushed back. So if the race is "on", I'm thinking about driving from DC.

Yes, Jacob Jarvits is Zone A but it's on a hill so should be fine.

The issue is out on the course, at the start area and the fact that clean-up for a marathon sure is not a priority right now.

The fact alone that probably 5-10,000 foreign runners won't make it, would have no impact on the decision.

If the event will be cancelled, I assume they will give 2012 entrants priority entry for 2013. Not much more they can do really. The money has been spent.

I assume they will have to make a call today. An impossible task. Imagine you go ahead and don't get it done in time. Imagine you cancel and realize on Saturday it would have been possible. As an event organizer (7000 cyclists over 110 miles) I really feel for Mary. At least it doesn't mean the end of the race as it could be with less important races.

Either way, it's just a run!

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Anyone want to venture a guess when we'll have a definitive answer? It seems like NYRR definitely wants to run the race, but I assume the city will make the call.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

I've got a back up to the back up plan. If the marathon is canceled then I'll run Richmond the following weekend. I just book a hotel room and in the past I've registered the day before at the expo.

I have too much experience to not go into marathon season with a back up. Osaka, November 25 it is.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Trying to decide on Manchester for this weekend or Vegas in December. Manchester would obviously be better timing, and also very close to home, but my understanding is its a pretty crappy race and extremely slow/hilly course.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

you guys are being ridiculous. you've done the race so you have to know that the start is very high above sea level and wasn't flooded. the fact that the loading area to the start (which also is above sea level) may or may not have been flooded 6 days before the race isn't going to cancel it. the fact that millions of people in the suburbs, who live in towns that continue to use telephone poles to deliver electricity and every year waste millions of dollars repairing downed lines while their residents go without power, isn't going to cancel the race. the fact that some foreigners won't be able to get here isn't going to cancel the race (it's not raining or windy this morning so i assume that the airports are going to be opened earlier than predicted and most will get here if they want to).

as of right now, it just feels like a typical october morning as it is cloudy, not raining and not windy. it's also not like there was massive damage throughout manhattan. if someone took pictures of most streets in manhattan and showed them to you, you would have no idea that a tropical storm just rolled through because nothing is down and nothing is destroyed. clearly that is not the case with a lot of the coastal towns but the nycm isn't being held in them.

Maybe they'll turn the marathon into an aqua-run.

Either way, good luck runners.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

So do you not have a TV/cable? You appear to have the internet. Cars were literally floating around in parts of lower Manhattan. It could be days before public transit is running in all areas of the city. Areas of queens and Brooklyn were completely submerged. And you think priority will be given to making sure a running race still happens? I hope everyone's still able to race but you act like most new yorkers - "there's no water by me, I still have power, so everything is fine". That's if you even live in the city..

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"One Line Robert"

Well, as for the foreigners: I'm yet to hear from someone who had a flight planned between today and Saturday to have either a) any connection making it in time for Sunday or b) anything earlier than arriving Saturday at 7pm.

It may or may not happen but you should look around if you are in the area. This is not a 200 people 5k.

Expo load-in is delayed but as of now planned to go ahead. That's a good sign.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

this is a typical ignorant/arrogant triathlete post. so you saw on television a car underwater in a part of manhattan that is nowhere near the race course and that means that the entire city has been destroyed? are you aware that there also were cars submerged in new jersey? not only do i live in manhattan, i live on the actual course. i just got in from walking around and 1st ave has nothing more than a few branches on it. it's fine. the city has over 5 days to get the course ready, public transportation up and running and everything else that got impacted yesterday that is essential ironed out. since you seem to be a self-professed expert on how nyc runs (despite not actually living here), what makes you think that the city will be completely frozen and shutdown through sunday and the race will be canceled?

also, don't forget that mary is running the show and knows what she is doing. unlike wall street, which shockingly still does not have a contingency plan in place after 9/11, nyrr does. she knows what she is doing and, thankfully, the one-eyed bandit isn't in charge anymore. here's the latest story:

NYC Marathon not expected to be affected by storm
0nShare[/url]
NEW YORK (AP) - New York City Marathon organizers expect superstorm Sandy to have little effect on Sunday's race.


"We're extraordinarily lucky the marathon is not today,'' New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg said during a conference call Monday as wind and rain started to batter the city.
Instead, she said, "we have time on our side'' - enough to prepare the course and for runners to travel to the city after the storm passes through.
And if flooding or other damage affects the course or logistics, NYRR has contingency plans every year to adjust to any potential problems.
The route through the five boroughs mostly avoids areas considered at highest risk for flooding. The biggest concerns center on getting entrants their numbers and to the starting line on Staten Island.
The ferry buildings used by about half the runners to travel from Manhattan to the start are in at-risk areas. Many other entrants take buses through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, which could flood. The Javits Center, where runners pick up their numbers, also is in an affected area.
The storm could knock down trees and limbs in Central Park, where the 26.2-mile race finishes. Wittenberg noted that the city was able to clear the park in time for last year's race a week after a freak snowstorm caused extensive damage.
NYRR organizes about 50 events a year and has dealt with obstacles ranging from heavy snow to lightning to security concerns.
"We've been through close to it all,'' Wittenberg said.
Organizers expect to reschedule flights to get all the elite athletes to New York early. And Wittenberg was confident that most of the nearly 20,000 amateur international runners signed up would make it in time. The hours for number pickup will probably be extended for those who arrive late Saturday.
For runners who can't get to New York, the deadline to withdraw from the race and guarantee a spot in next year's event likely will be pushed back from Wednesday to Saturday. Race organizers won't refund entry fees, and runners would have to pay again next year under normal race policy.
The ceremonial finish-line painting scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled, along with a news conference Tuesday. A children's run Thursday has been moved from Central Park to an indoor track, and the pavilion in the park has been taken down for the time being. If power is lost, generators or backup systems are in key locations.
Otherwise, Wittenberg expects race week will look much the same to New Yorkers and competitors. Extra time is always built into planning, and 700 part-time workers and 8,000 volunteers ensure the course can be set up quickly.
"We remain extremely confident we will have an amazing weekend,'' she said.

if you still feel so strongly that the race will be canceled, i am more than happy to take the other side of that bet in whatever size you want to wager.

I'm really sorry that you seem not to have a contingency plan. And your fitness for this race might be "wasted".

Talk about ignorant. You should relax a bit.

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"One Line Robert"

i'm not doing the race! i'm just responding to your idiotic post. i also have been in contact with senior people at nyrr today and nyrr expects the race to go on (ie, it's not mary blowing hot air to the media). ultimately, it's the city's decision but i can't see it being canceled given how little damage there has been in and around the marathon course. from what i understand, nyrr is most concerned right now with the ferry situation and the damage in central park but both situations easily can be dealt with over the next 5 days. in the meantime, i look forward to reading some more of your woefully ill-informed posts from a distant place.

Its not nyrr's call as you seem to understand. I'd listen more to what Uli has to say. Just because the actual course appears to be fine is irrelevant.

Distant place? I'm in Manhattan, just a block away from water levels that exceeded waist deep. Most all of lower Manhattan is without power still - my building included.

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"One Line Robert"

So you rely on an article that was largely written and quoted before the storm even hit? Maybe they do get it done, but it seems to me the better use of police and emergency personnel this weekend will be in other areas besides working a race route.

i applaud you for another ridiculous post. so the condition of the actual course now is irrelevant? so if miles of road were ripped apart and covered with live electric lines and trees, that would somehow be "irrelevant." i can see that you have a good grasp of the issues at hand. do continue with your posts as they are most enjoyable to read.

no, if you would have bothered to have read what i wrote above the article, i've been in contact with people at nyrr this morning and myself walked around 1st ave. perhaps you should go back and re-read what i wrote?

i also know that a lot of the pros are scrambling right now trying to fly into other cities and drive. molly pritz drove in from detroit on sunday to ensure that she would be here. she was one of the only ones who was smart enough to get here early via an alternate plan. also, the 5k on saturday very well might get canceled.

Meaning, since you appear to not be able to connect dots on your own, that getting people into the city, to the start line, etc is of much more concern.

"We have no way to get you here, but the course is clear!"

Haha. I'm going to let this die now. I hope the race goes off. I know what its like to be fit for a race and things not play out as planned. Never mind a race of this size.

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"One Line Robert"

From the Website:
ING New York City Marathon Weather Update
Tuesday, 10/30, 10AM: We are currently focused on recovery efforts, and our thoughts go out to all those affected by the storm. Please stay safe - we will update you later in the day as more information becomes available. Please check hurricane-related news for the New York area and your area, and please check this site frequently, as we will be posting updates. Most importantly, please stay safe throughout this week.

I think everyone here would like to see the race happen. Not sure why you are so aggressive. Go for run as I did just now around CP.

Again, the text you quoted is from 3pm yesterday. It's not about the actual course, it's about the logistics around the event.

Let's hope you're right.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Con Ed is saying it may be days to restore all power and the MTA is saying transit will come back peicemeal. Not encouraging sounds but I hope it goes off

What is wrong with you? A) whatever the race director wants is 100% secondary to getting the city of New York back on its feet. B) I don't think anyone will know the scope of the subway system damage until today or tomorrow. If there is massive damage to the subway, how can there be a race?

I would cancel the race right now, so that people aren't even thinking about it. It's only a marathon.

what is wrong with you? the city doesn't die if the subway isn't running as there are things called buses and taxis that work just fine. the subway actually was knocked out around 6 years ago during the morning rush hour when there was an enormous downpour. did the city shutdown? no. people crammed into buses, took taxis, walked, etc. and got to work. the amount of people who need to get to the start of the nycm is nothing compared to the amount of people who commute to work each morning. you also are assuming that the subway won't be up and running in 5 days, which is extremely unlikely.

fortunately, you are not in charge of the nycm and making executive decisions regarding it because the race is going to go on and should not be canceled today.

Agree....This is the reason I wish ST had a way we could block seeing members post (of our choice). I really get annoyed reading individual aggressive type post like these....that go on and on. Having the ability to block these would make our reading so much more enjoyable.

Michael

man, NY'er really are high strung

+1

from ny times:

• 
  8:33 am
  Andy Newman
  Schools to Stay Closed, Bloomberg Says; Subways Out '4 or 5 Days'
  The New York City subway system will remain shut for “a good four or five days” and schools will remain closed on Wednesday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said.
  Mr. Bloomberg said he hoped that some bus service would be restored in the city by Tuesday afternoon.
  Share this post on: Twitter Facebook [/url]
  

Fortunately you are not in charge with making executive decisions given your myopic view of the situation

Sorry about the storm guys...I washed my car the other day :)

http://www.nytimes.com/...=tw-nytimes&_r=0

Latest news in short: NYRR moving forward, waiting on city for the call.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

You need to calm down. We all hope the marathon will go ahead and I'd guess it will, 60/40 maybe, but with a lot of overseas runners missing. The fact first av looks ok to you though is bizarrely myopic. I also live very close to the course and can confirm several sections in northern brooklyn were under water last night - they're dry now but need work. There's a lot of other factors I could see haing an impact even if mass transit and electricity are fixed in time (which sounds like it'll be close at best). Top of my list is staffing - I assume the whole nypd are going to be pulling overtime through the weekend so how many are going to be available to run the race?

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"Are you sure we're going fast enough?" - Emil Zatopek

That was my comment to my gf last night. Even if they can run the race, do they really have the police, ems etc to run the race when they are driving all over trying to get the city back in shape.

dude, don't lump the rest of us along with one stereotypicaly high strung, out of perspective New Yorker.

given the damages done in some of the places (which, btw, didn't go full flooding a few years ago), it'll take at least 5 days (how long it took in 1992) to have the subways running.

OK, I did. And you said:

"Here's the latest story:" and the printed the text of the article. Please define "the latest story" for me if it doesn't mean the most recent info. Oh, wait, here's the "latest story":

http://www.stridenation.com/...-nyrr-sandy-new-york

"But Tuesday's press conference by Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn't paint such an positive picture. Many of the city's Subway stations were flooded Monday night, and it could be "four to five days" before the MTA is back in service. Which means there is a chance the Subway will not be functioning by Sunday morning, when some 47,000 runners will rely on it to get them to and from the start and finish lines.
MTA's Joe Lhota also spoke on Tuesday, saying, "This is the worst damage we have ever seen to the MTA system." They won't have a specific timetable until after their "assessment."
Already though, the effects of Sandy are causing issues for the marathon. The race expo is planned to be held in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, but that sits in a flood zone and NYRR staff have not been able to get inside to begin readying for bib pick-up. Additionally, travel to New York has been heavily impacted, and made near impossible in some cases. There are 20,000 runners coming from international locations, but with nearly 6,000 flights already canceled, many likely will not be able to make it to the start line. "

I hope they can pull it off, it might be good for the city to be distracted from the damage for a few hours this weekend. Just quit being such a defensive jerk about it. The fact remains that the City is heavily damaged and police and emergency personnel are going to be better utilized helping with the aftermath rather than directing traffic for a race.

Will there even be enough volunteers around to put on the race? Have to say if I had evacuated and just getting back, volunteering at the marathon may not be at the top of my list.

Who cares about volunteers and course management and emergency personnel. The course didn't sustain any damage so everything else will be fine.....

I just decided to cancel my NY plans and run in 2013. Part of the fun was to bring my kids to NY for their first time. Even if the race is pulled off, the rest of the city will be in recovery mode and certainly not as much fun.

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John Snyder @URNotAsCoolAsMe

I am weighing the same decision.....Not sure it makes sense to make this trip if the city is a complete mess

Is there any reason to think the midtown/times square area is going to be a mess? It's my understanding this area did not flood or lose power. I think I would still go as long as the race was on, but if restaurants/attractions/etc. are still going to be closed, would probably leave the family behind.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

I hear you guys, the thing for me is I "think" I'm holding pretty good form at the moment and I spent two years trying to qualify for the race, finally accomplishing it 2-days before the cut-off. Then in June I fractured my 5th metatarsal - had a delayed union - fought like hell to get back in shape and now here we are at Marathon week. I just don't want to throw it away considering how emotionally invested I am. But I'm with the folks in NYC, if they need time to focus on the recovery - not the marathon - I'm ok staying home.

Just heard now on the news that NYRRC said the race is on

and they already retracted that statement:

http://blogs.wsj.com/...r-on-marathons-fate/

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@adamwfurlong

I'm really not impressed with the communication from these folks. They have been clogging my e-mail inbox for months trying to sell me junk and giving me bad training advice. Now when I actually want to hear from them, they don't seem to be able to communicate a coherent message about the race. I think the least they could communicate is when they think they'll know with certainty whether it is a go or not.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

"I understand that the New York City Marathon will go on on Sunday" --Mayor Michael Bloomberg, press briefing, 6:02 p.m., 10/30.

people really need to take a step back. this isn't 9/11 and the fact that there is a lot of property damage elsewhere doesn't mean that the nycm will be canceled.

x2

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"if you chose it, it's not really pain"

How are the highways getting into the city at the moment? Its looking like Amtrak is not gonna be an option.

this site has good info:

http://www.wnyc.org/.../28/transit-tracker/

all of the bridges are open so getting in via the road shouldn't be a problem.

But as been pointed out, the last person in the decision making tree on whether the race is on or off will be the NYRRC.

The decision is very fluid and also secondary to the many other more important things going on right now in and around the boroughs but also contingent on many of the top priority issues working towards resolution

The race brings in major $ to the city but not due to the runners but by the millions of spectators along the course. If they are not able to get around to view the race, eat/drink/shop and/or host viewing parties

oh, wow! that's awesome. you guys are practially neighbors then. you should meet up for coffee!

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http://www.hooslisa.com

the bars on the ues are packed tonight so i am sure they won't have any issues getting packed again on sunday just like they always are on marathon sunday.

the decision isn't "fluid" as you claim (do you actually believe that bloomberg and team have been waffling back-and-forth all day and night on it?) the mayor said tonight that the race is on. nyrr and the city are going to have to hammer out some contingency plans (eg, if the subway still is down on sunday) but the race is going on whether people want to believe it or not.

The race will go, but I really think if they weren't worried about the backlash of canceling it, they would. Because a LOT of people won't be able to get to the race (I know of at least 10 who have decided not to even try to go) because of airport closures/delays etc, it's not NYRR can't be blamed for not having the race....people will take it out on the airlines who couldn't get them there. I bet the field is only 1/2 what it would be.

With the kind of damage that is being done to NYC (hotels, transportation, diverted police resources, etc), I think people would give them some slack for cancelling if they make the decision quickly. People understand natural disaster. I think communication is key and they don't have much time to make that decision. Having said that, if they wait until Saturday to make a decision, that would cause major backlash.

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My marathon PR is "under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

This is the latest from the website:

2012 Marathon Update
"This is a very challenging time for the people and City of New York. The City is rightfully focused on assessment, restoration and recovery. At NYRR, we stand with our City agency partners and support their efforts. The Marathon has always been a special day for New Yorkers as a symbol of the vitality and resiliency of this City. NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation. We will keep all options open with regard to making any accommodations and adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events. We will provide an update and more detail as information becomes available."

Not exactly a definitive "yes its on", more like we're leaning towards having the race.

From the Jacob Javits Center web site....

THE ING NY City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo is on as scheduled for Thurs. Nov 1 - Sat. Nov 3 www.nycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/expo.htm. Additional event specific information can be found on individual event websites.

The expo is on (for sure). I estimate the probability of race cancellation to be ~2%. Just my opinion.

The place where I'm planning to spend Saturday night may not have power (or water), so contingency planning is under way.

thanks for the javis post.

limited subway service to resume on Thursday.

http://abclocal.go.com/...ather&id=8863734

ferry service is still down

I walked Boston this year in the heat and on Sunday October 28 I ran the Marine Corps Marathon just hours before the storm hit there. I think the NYC crowd is screwed. Tim

As I wrote in the Wall Street Journal commentary, my sentiments go to Mary Wittenberg, the race organizers and the Bloomberg administration for having to deal with this conundrum. It's really a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If the NYRR cancels the race or even just postpones it for the following weekend or mid-November, it will cause a wave of after-shocks to all involved: runners and organizers and businesses.

First, it will involve sending emails and notices to tens of thousands of race participants that are registered and coming in from all 50 states and about 50 other countries. When these participants receive the cancellation notice, they will have to cancel and / or re-book all their flights and hotel rooms - for themselves and for their families who are planning to come. Many of these hotels and flights have no-cancellation policies. Re-bookings of flights and hotels for next week or mid November will be virtually impossible at this point. We are talking about tens of thousands of runners coming from all over the world.

These professional and amateur runners (and their families) will also have to adjust their personal and work calendars. Because of these matters, thousands will not be able to make it to the new race date if it is ever moved and most of these hotel fees and airline fares will not be refunded. The hotels and airlines will not be sympathetic to changes.

Moreover, a new date will also involve adjusting the NYPD traffic schedules that involves 5 bridges and 26 miles of roadway. Schedules of thousands of volunteers will also have to be adjusted and those volunteers may not make the new schedule. Corporate sponsors who have already ponied for ads and will have to adjust too. Cancelling the expo with hundreds of participating companies will not be easy. Race inventory and sales inventory that is already in the javits warehouse will have to be moved.

A new date will pose a LOGISTICAL nightmare for everyone.

Granted most of the subways will still not be ready by Sunday morning but the subways are needed on race day only for transport to the Ferry. The NYRR with the support of the Bloomberg administration can simply add many more buses to bring runners to the Ferry and Staten Island. It's been done before and it can be done again. The subway system involves only those that are going from parts of Manhattan to the Ferry. Buses can do that.

But there will always be New Yorkers who cannot stand the NYC marathon. Many that live in its course cannot stand that date because of the traffic and the chaos.

Going on with this race does not belittle the tragic effects of Sandy. But pushing on with the race will also not change the effects of Sandy. There will be New Yorkers who will resent the NYRR and Bloomberg for pushing through with the race – considering that there are many more things that administration has to do to put the City back to normalcy. Obviously there will be those who believe that putting a Marathon smack inside NYC now is probably the last thing we need and that the city's administrative resources can be better used elsewhere for THAT DAY. But we are talking about one day here. Some sanitation workers and NYPD officers will be paid extra for that day.

The decision to postpone the race should have been done last week or even prior to last week when everyone anticipated this storm to come. But then again, no one really knew how bad this storm would affect the City. It is a tough call indeed for Mike and Mary.

The NYRR has already made adjustments to this weekend. Deferrals (normally already not allowed by this point) will be allowed until Saturday. The expo will be open a few more hours longer. I am almost sure the race will not start at 9:50 as originally scheduled to allow for the late buses coming into the area.

The Race will go on. Many will not agree but in my humble opinion, it is the smarter thing to do at this juncture. It will bring $300 million of revenues to a city that needs the money. It will be a positive event for the locals to tell themselves that they can rise from last weekend’s disaster and move on.


There are four days left and Mary and Mike can still change their mind. But I personally see little possibility of this happening.


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Darn, tablet typing.
I meant to type it is NOT Fluid as it is firmly up to Bloomberg Admin on whether it goes on or not when they got around to making that decision.They were certainly not waffling back and forth as it was low on the priority list and only thought about when Wittenberg was calling Bloomberg ever 10 minutes begging for him to take her call ;)

Anyway, Bloomberg just announced, that the race is 100% on

He also said that he's encouraging some sort of time limit and sweep of the course so that the city resources used for the marathon can quickly be redeployed elsewhere.

+1

I was coming to NYC from HI for the marathon, but also for a week of sight-seeing with my bf. We decided to postpone and come at a time when the city wasn't in turmoil and we could really enjoy everything NYC has to offer. I was fortunate that Hawaiian Air gave a full refund and Hyatt allowed me to reschedule my pre-paid reservation to another time. See you in 2013!

I do think the race will likely happen, and were it not such a big investment of time/money for me to get there, I would love to do it. I hope you all get to run!

RR

Bloomberg announced at about 3:30 pm today, that 14 out of the 23 subway lines (about 61%) will be running by tomorrow. That is three whole days before the marathon and I would assume that by Sunday there will be more lines running. No ferries have sunk and there have been no news on damages to ferry terminals, so let us hope the ferry service is running by Sunday.


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I just need LaGuardia airport to open, so that I can fly in from Toronto Friday morning. Really just crossing my fingers here. Anyone have any inside info. into the LGA situation? I truely believe that there will be some sort of plan put in place for Sunday morning to get runners to the Ferries so they can get to the starting line. Whether that means busing down to Whitehall or moving the Ferry start to some other terminal in a more convenient part of Manhattan? Is that an option perhaps?

Go NY!!

It's looking better and better but 14/23 is misleading as many of the lines that are back are partial - this map is clearer:



http://gothamist.com/...ap_shows_limited.php

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STRONGLY suggest you try alternatives to La Guardia. That airport is quite flooded while JFK is already partly open. Good luck.

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I would try to fly into JFK or another airport and drive in.

We have the medical captains meeting tomorrow night (rescheduled from tuesday) and plans are going forward.
Subway is partially restored tomorrow.
Power to most of manhattan expected friday or saturday

biking to work was the most challenging thing for me today - with the park closed, and gridlock galore and INSANE drivers.

the roads to/from the city are clear (had to drive my son back to school in Kent, CT).

for those that do run, I hope NOT to see you - will be in the post finish line medical tent P1

I'm staying just off 4th Ave in Brooklyn for the race. If the race does go forward, does anyone have suggestions for how to get to the race expo on Saturday. Take the subway as far north as possible in Brooklyn, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, then catch a cab?

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What do you think the odds are that Amtrak will be operating between Penn Station and Union Station (DC) by Friday AM?

What a terrible situation the organizers are in.

But having visited from Canada after 9/11, I was amazed at the spirit of the people from NYC, and if anyone can pull it off they can and their fearless leader Mary Wittenburg.

In the meantime, I'm praying that everything works out for the world's greatest city and everyone trying to figure out how to get to the start line!

LGA opens tomorrow @ 7am. Limited schedule. If you are not flying Delta as LGA is their increasing main hub and tryingto run full schedules into/out of JFK and LGA, as others suggested i would flying into JFK.

Probably pretty high but the Amtrak website is a better resource for this. From the news, I saw rail track damage was more prevalent in the north than in the south of NYC.

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Seems like a good plan but I wouldn't wait until Saturday to do this. Try doing it tomorrow or Friday.


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nyt website has a link to the limited subway map.
you could also grab a bus -
else walk across bridge

I just deferred to next year.......Not the NYC experience I was looking for with my family. Best of luck to all those who are racing.

I am only 60 miles south in NJ, but I don't think there is an option, at this point, for me to get to the expo.

I hear yah. Even if I end up getting there, it doesn't seem like the experience will be anything like I hoped. That being said, I have no interest, in deferring this race, so I really just want to scratch it off the bucket list. Hopefully we won't get boo'd while we're running.

Just spoke with Westjet and they seemed to think their flights Thursday to LGA should be back to normal by mid day. Here's keeping my fingers crossed!

I beg to differ. Run the race first and then get back to us and let us know how and why the experience will not be like you hoped. Indeed, the fact that you run it after this disaster makes it all the more special.

If there will be any person on the course that will Boo you out, I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the crowd kicks him out.


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Thanks. I hope you are right!! Really looking forward to it and supporting the city the best I can!

After seeing the " boil water" alert and the chaos today... I'll be back in 2013. Friends in jersey said stay away... Plus my hotel has no power!

This is where my head is at: http://running.competitor.com/...w-mustnt-go-on_61282

X2. The images from in and around the city and on down into New Jersey are truly devastating and almost unbelievable. I'm not running, but can't imagine getting my mind in any other place but thinking of all of those affected by the events of the last few days.

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As far as I know:

- The ferries are probably fine, that's the main public transport needed for the start
- The bridges aren't affected
- The course doesn't go through Lower Manhattan
- NYRR is going to beef up private support (they made at least 1 million on the lottery alone, they can afford it)
- The roads aren't washed out, and they can probably be swept reasonably well by then.
- The local businesses that are open will get a boost, esp. hotels
- There's probably plenty of bottled water coming from FEMA

You wimps that don't want to spit in the face of disaster? Fine, don't show up. Want to do an epic run through a city that says "screw you, we're still doing this"? Oh yeah. New York is supposed to be city of can-do tough people. How would this not be something fun to do if the power is still out to build a community sense?

I lived on the Jersey Shore and saw videosof Sea Bright. It is fubar in the full, literal, and historical sense . But the NYC marathon isn't going along barrier island highways.

Come on people.

I'm flying out to cheer some folks on. I might bandit half of the race now just for the experience.

i love on long island. i just deferred my entry to 2013. we have almost a million people without power/heat etc. and they are still finding bodies on staten island of people who drowned in their homes. still no power in manhattan south of 39th street, minimal public transportation, many hotels without power. i can't justify running when the resources required to run this race would be better off going to people in need. we are ok where i live and we haven't had school all week - trees down everywhere, wires everywhere, no power etc. i totally support people who still want to run on sunday, i just couldn't stomach it. if you're coming this way, be sure to check that your hotel is up and running. best of luck to those who choose to run.

I don't really see it as a loss of resources. Any cleanup for the race has to happen anyway. It brings in money when probably nothing else imaginable would. Apparently the NYRR is going to hire people to do what other critical personnel would do, that's more GDP/services exchange. The marathon doesn't need power, and power reestablishment will happen anyway irregardless of the race being held.

bottled water coming from FEMA? haha.

All in all I'm rather disappointed in the dearth of information that was forthcoming from NYRR. Thy wouldn't even post an update on their website telling people they would be allowed to cancel. They kept posting a bunch of stuff but not even something that simple and valuable.

Late tonight (my time) I finally get a letter from them telling us they will allow cancellations until midnight Saturday (11:59 pm actually). Should have said that yesterday. The opening ceremony is cancelled, the Saturday race is cancelled and they don't know how they're going to transport people to the start yet. they are also desperate for volunteers. I cancelled on Tuesday before the original deadline when the airlines were telling me i could not be accommodated on another flight until the mid to end of next week at the absolute earliest. I'll think about whether I want to bother with the race in 2013. I really didn't like reading the message from the mayor and NYRR that the race is being held because small business need our money. There are a few more important things to consider than that right atm.

At any rate, my lack of participation this year was a forgone conclusion yesterday. There have been over 20,000 cancelled flights to the NYC area. If you're fortunate enough to be able to travel later in the week to the race (it's over 12 hours flying time for me) and have a seat, good luck.

Watching the news today about driving into the city and it was reported that if you don't have 3 or more in your car you'll be stopped and not allowed in. Anyone confirm this who lives in the great area. i presume they're referring to Manhattan. But that might make a bit of a difference for folks who are thinking of driving.

That is accurate. Today and tomorrow from 6am to midnight only 3 individuals or more in a vehicle can enter Manhattan to ease up on the "dangerous/deadly" gridlock that currently exists in Manhattan. Plus Governor Cumo also declared a Transit Emergency where all mass transit is free of charge thru tomorrow to encourage people to take mass transit (as limited as it is) instead of driving.

I just got the following email from NYRR:
Special Communication: The Marathon Will Take Place Sunday as Scheduled

Following Wednesday's announcement by Mayor Bloomberg, the ING New York City Marathon will proceed on Sunday, November 4. This year's marathon is dedicated to the City of New York, the victims of the hurricane, and their families.

We're adjusting Marathon Day plans as a result of the storm's impact on our operations and resources. At every turn, we will be working to ensure that our planning doesn't affect any recovery efforts.

As a result, our sole focus is now on Marathon Sunday and therefore we have:
•Canceled Friday night's Marathon Opening Ceremony and Saturday's NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K•Revised our cancellation policy•Extended number pick-up hours at the expo•And established ways for everyone to give back through charitable donations
There will be substantial modifications to the logistics and operations of the race, including the transportation plan, due to the impact of the storm. We continue to work with the city to adjust our marathon planning. Please stay tuned for more important daily updates on our website, through e-mail, and via social media.
Support the Relief Effort

This marathon is all about supporting NYC. To help support New York-area storm relief and recovery efforts, please go to the Mayor's Fund or go to CrowdRise to make a donation.

2012 Revised Cancellation Policy
We've revised the cancellation policy for the 2012 ING New York City Marathon. Runners who are forced to cancel this year because they are unable to reach NYC due to weather will be eligible for guaranteed entry to the 2013 race, even if they also cancelled in 2011. Also, runners may now cancel online, by e-mail, or by mail, until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, or in in person at the expo until 5:00 p.m. EDT on that date. Please visit our Cancellation Policies page and follow the guidelines if you need to cancel your entry this year. Please be aware that the revised policy is for 2012 only, and that our no-refund policy in the event of cancellation this year remains in place.

Extended Number Pickup Hours
Given transportation issues resulting from the storm, we're extending the hours to pick up your race materials at the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo. The expo will be open:
•Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.•Saturday, November 3, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with bib pickup available from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.•Those who are not able to arrive at the Jacob Javits Convention Center by 10:00 p.m. on Saturday should call 212.423.2252 or e-mail jcupo@nyrr.org for pickup instructions.

We Need Volunteers
We are humbled and gratified by the many offers of volunteer service that we've received in recent days. Please visit our site for volunteer opportunities at the expo and on race day, or register as a Stand-by Volunteer if you are willing and able to take any available assignment.

ONLY on the east river crossings.
much needed. way too many cars and the gridlock is unbelievable. behavior of drivers is HORRID.

Mary Wittenberg ,NYC Marathon CEO, was just on the Today Show. She seemed to be putting on her best support of the Mayor's decision to hold the race but cancel other related events this weekend.

Hope it all goes off okay. Controversial to say the least.

That was a very strange interview.

All along I thought it was her and NYRR that was pushing forward in trying to get the race run, but after that interview it seems she has no desire to hold the race, but it was Bloomberg that shoved it down her throat.

IMO, it is in very poor taste to hold the race.

Seems like you can't run it or even make it EVEN if you wanted to. Sorry about that. You should seriously reconsider the 2013 option because as a marathon runner, which I assume you are, the NYC marathon is a good thing to put in the bucket list. I would assume there will be about 5,ooo to 10,ooo marathon deferrals this year but for the locals like me, we will toe the line and go on with the race with our thoughts and prayers for all those who have suffered from this disaster. I don't understand those who live here in the City and would not run it and rather just sit on their couch that morning and watch TV.


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that is correct. feel free to take the GWB by yourself but there is major gridlock going on right now so i don't know if you want to come in.

AWESOME!! That's what I wanted to hear as I prepare to fly in tomorrow to race on Sunday!! It might not be the same as every other year, but there will be something really special and different about doing it this year. I'm bring my cash and will be spending it the best I can! See you out there!

Hopefully everyone stranded in Hoboken in sewage water can wait 5 more hours while police and emergency personnel can assist with dehydrated runners.

The lack of perspective is beyond mind boggling.

+1.

I know in my small little world, if either of us not running in the marathon, we spend the day spectating. This year we are not. So that is 4 less people watching the race and spending $.

Fortunately our power came back yesterday, so we are hosting some people that are not as fortunate plus helping out whenever/wherever we can in local shelters over the weekend.

Plus to your comment above, I know several/many people that volunteer each year. They have withdrew(?) their request this year in the past few days so to quote one of them..."if I am going to hand out water on Sunday, I will hand out water to those who really need it"

What seems most weird would be to go to NYC only to have it half shut down and crippled. Most of the fun of visiting NYC is everything that's going on. I was never registered but I'd probably would have deferred if I was. The logistics of just getting into the city are enough to turn be back

Hoboken is New Jersey - the personnel would not be there anyway
NYRR is using their own personnel to not take away from recovery efforts
$$ will be donated to the recovery

not everything is so black and white as it apparently is in your mind.

http://www.nytimes.com/...;pagewanted=all&

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"if you chose it, it's not really pain"

since when do NJ personnel work at the NYC marathon? your lack of perspective is mind boggling. moreover, where are all of these dying people that EMT is working on that the NYRR will be using? how about the NYPD? what exactly do you think the NYPD will be doing on sunday that is so pressing that they can't oversee the street closings? if you think that the NYPD is involved with debris removal, fixing the con ed plant, rewiring downed electric lines, pumping out the subway, fixing water mains or putting downed trees in wood chippers, then it might behoove you to look around and see that the NYPD isn't involved in any of that. the amount of anger/ignorance/vitriol being spewed by people at NYRR and bloomberg really is amazing.

My only comment to your above diatribe is... Ms. Wittenberg, it is very nice to have you posting on ST

Getting there isn't going to happen at all. 20,000 flights were cancelled and as someone in the airline business I can tell you that no matter what the media tells you, it will take a week or longer to get things back to 'normal'. I'll see how I feel about it in late winter when they send out the letters to those of us who canceled. But frankly the lack of any useful information whatsoever from the NYRR was very disappointing. I certainly didn't expect detailed information about the race or conditions in Manhattan, but i did expect them to at least acknowledge that a huge number and very large percentage of runners would not be able to make it and extend the deadline before they expired. Even WTC isn't that obstinate.

I have a busy tri season scheduled next year including 2 70.3's and 2 fulls one of which is less than a month before the 2013 NYC Marathon and was was planning on this years marathon being my last stand alone. But as I said, I'll see how I feel come late winter.

How about because they'd rather volunteer their time at a shelter or to clean up efforts or any other number of other things other than running a marathon?

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Are you serious? Hoboken is literally a flooded subway away from Manhatten. If there are qualified trained emergency personnel 20 minutes away that are available, I would imagine the fine folks of NYC might be willing to lend their services to their less fortunate neighbors. I don't think jurisdiction is going to take priority. It is pretty black and white.

Mag, I think it's more of acknowledgement that the police , fire and other emt folks have worked past the point of exhaustion both physically and mentally and the last thing they need to be doing is directing traffic. Plus it might seem a matter of priorities to some, opening major roads just so they can close them again for a marathon just doesn't sound right.

What got me though was both the mayor and the NYRR said the reason they were holding the race is so they can get the money we'd bring. Now obviously those weren't the exact words but that is what they said and although having an economic boost is a good thing it shouldn't be the priority at this time.

I don't want to get in a pissing match, but the small businesses which may not get all the money they need for repairs from the insurance companies and may need the boost don't care about money?

If for some reason I was stuck away from my family this week due to flight cancellations and found out that people were still getting to NYC for the marathon, I would be disturbed.

A small business that suffered catastrophic damage requiring insurance proceeds is going to be open for business on Sunday?

Ferry service cancelled.

Bus service from the public library on 42nd and fifth

1st wave-430
2nd-530
3rd-630
4th-730

Where did you see this update?

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/...o/transportation.htm

I think people running will be looking to get in and then out as quick as possible so there will be likely min economic impact compared to the regular marathon

As a New Yorker, I'll say I'm happy to be racing my 7th NYCM.
FrankenSandy? Fuhgeddaboudit!

I'll bet you're right. And if they can't use the subway or ferries I can't imagine this coming off without a hitch -- that's a lot of extra people to bus to the start.

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The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -- A fake Albert Einstein "quote"

I live just south of Houston. In 2008 Ike barreled through and devastated the area. In addition to COMPLETELY flattening some areas at the coast, the damage extended in 50-60 miles. Even my own neighborhood, some 30+ miles from the coast had about 1/4 to 1/3 of the houses with roofs torn off, fences down, etc. One of my pals had water damage due to a blown off roof to the tune of 50% of the value of the house. Downtown Houston was a mess with debris, people without power, etc. In the entire metro area, millions were without power for up to a week, people standing in lines waiting for water out of the back of trucks, etc.

We are an area that puts up with the threat of tropical weather each year. I can tell you that if there was a marathon scheduled the weekend following a big weather event, one of two things would be self-evident:

1) There is no way in hell the city would be ready; emergency resources would be much better served rebuilding and protecting the citizens. To do otherwise shows the selfishness of the city and/or organization for pushing such an event.
2) The devastation is overblown and critical services aren't being impacted by diverting attention away from recovery efforts.

So for people in the area, is it #1 or #2? If #1, it says a lot about the people behind local politics in NYC and the race. My thoughts would be on my citizens recovery, not a race. After a disaster, the way a community responds to rebuild itself and focus on the bigger priorities speaks volumes about the city.

Let's just say I'm glad I don't live in NYC if this is how the citizens are treated.

at the expo. they are announcing it over the address system

Will Tropical Storm Sandy impact NYC Marathon

A little bit.

However, this weekend there is going to be some awesomely muddy running CX and cycling CX races in the areas that Sandy passed through. The ground locally here in the Toronto area is super-saturated.

Post pics! :)

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

So I guess if you live in Brooklyn you are screwed. They should have a bus going from the Atlantic center. I am close to deferring. I don't really want to deal with this nightmare on Sunday.

ABSOLUTELY, AND THEY SHOULD and I applaud them for that and I support their efforts. But I wasn't referring to those who are willing to do something. I am refer to those who just sit on their couch and watch TV.


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Yeah, that sucks. Even for Lower Manhattan it is shit as it could take over an hour to walk that far unless you manage to get a cab or bus (there's a lot of people wanting them at the mo). That will be a decent length bus ride as well to the start...can't use the Battery Tunnel either.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/...195426#ixzz2AzmeLpst

Staten Island Councilman James Oddo: 'Idiotic' to divert cops to New York Marathon right after Hurricane Sandy.

“If you saw what I saw in South Beach, Midland Beach & New Dorp Beach this morning you would know how idiotic it would be to take even one asset away from people in dire need,” Oddo wrote.

Desperately needed food, water and generators were being rushed Thursday to Sandy-ravaged Staten Island while local leaders blasted the city’s “idiotic” plan to stage the New York City Marathon in the midst of the crisis.

Staten Island Councilman James Oddo urged Mayor Bloomberg to reconsider, especially while rescue efforts are still underway on the hard-hit South Shore.

"The notion of diverting even one police officer, one first responder, one asset away from this carnage is beyond irrational,” the Republican lawmaker told The Daily News.

"The mayor said to me, 'We're not going to diminish what is happening on Staten Island.' You know what happens on marathons - you put a cop on every corner. How are we going to have enough resources?"

The marathon takes an incredible amount of resources from the city. Police, ambulances, etc... The marathon also gives a lot back to the city in terms of charity, tourism $'s etc... When the city is operating under normal circumstances the event is a huge boon for the city and has a very positive impact, but right now NYC is a MESS. Drawing resources away from those who need them most for a running race is a mistake. The city's citizens and service people are stretched thin already and the strains of the event outweigh its benefits right now.

The marathon should be rescheduled.

I agree but like I posted three pages back, the cancellation announcement should have been done LAST WEEK!

Let me ask you how you intend to inform 10,000 foreign runners who are at the Javits Center now and 20,000 family members in various hotels around the city, PLUS the 5,000 other people coming in tonight and tomorrow and saturday from all 50 states and 50 countries that the event is cancelled? If I were Bloomberg or Wittenburg and I gave you this ONE single task I would be curious as to how you would do it.

Once again my question is serious.


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Andy Potts is going to be there and to support Asics and NYC, so says his Twitter! I'd say do it support the city, maybe stay a bit after help clean up? Or go in early (tomorrow) do some help and roll with it. Know that it might not be the best experience, but have fun and for reals saying you ran NYC is a feat, saying you ran it after Sandy, huge! Saying you helped out after it, massive! If you're travel arrangements and staying support it, I'd say go.

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Beyond Aero

"Grind it til' you find it..."

Pretty interesting story and tangentially related to the NYCM
http://www.theatlantic.com/...ricane-sandy/264337/

pigeons

NY has lots of them


Tim

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Tim

I am on the record that they should have cancelled the race and it was a very poor decision to move forward with it, but agree that it is beyond the point of cancelling for the comments you made.

What I would do is reduce the course size and not mandating it go in all the boroughs thus reducing the amount of emergency services and volunteers needed (which they desperately need it appears).

Take the start away from Staten Island given all the logistical issues.

Even going back to the beginning with 4+ loops in Central Park (it is suppose to open to the public on Saturday)

Different states different licensing so no, not quite so simple as you suggest

Actually, Facebook would be a better option. Except for me, everyone in the Earth, Mars and Saturn has a facebook account which they check every 50 seconds from either an iPhone or a Galaxy phone (neither of which do I own.)

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a notification popped up on my iphone while i was checking my facebook status saying you responded to this thread......

i still think pigeons. they are a far to underutilized asset of the city. i remeber when they tried to get them to run the "street meat" carts but they refused due to union restrictions.


Tim

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Tim

yes, you're right, that red tape might really get in the way.

of course there is also staten island and brooklyn.

they are both NY

http://www.businessweek.com/...ew-york-needs#r=read

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Beyond Aero

"Grind it til' you find it..."

While I think the optics of this race are going to remain controversial at best we need to consider that we don't really know what resources are available to the NYPD, fire services and other emergency authorities or how they're being deployed. I commented on staffing earlier in this thread but since then I've heard of several NY firemen who haven't worked since the Hurricane. My assumption wass that every worker in the city would be pulling doubles until everything is fixed but, it turns out, that just isn't the case. I'm not saying I know there are enough police in reserve to cover the course I'm just flagging that I don't know and, I suspect, neither do most expressing outrage here. The optics will still suck though.

Maybe there are tweaks to be made to the course but it's really a good course as is given what they have to work with. 4 loops of CP won't work - it becomes dangerously crowded and difficult to police when they put on a 2 loop half-marathon for 6,000 so four loops for 30k is a non-starter.

I will be volunteering at 12 miles on Saturday - I wish there was something substantive I could do for the victims of this Hurricane but there isn't. I couldn't get to them right now even if there was. So I, and hundreds of others, will be at the marathon

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"Are you sure we're going fast enough?" - Emil Zatopek

Continuing with the Marathon might also give the city a lift and a sense of normalcy.

The participants will need to be patient and understanding: no complaining. That would help the situation.

OK Slowtwitch I need your help once again. We are going tomorrow. My train from DC (0930) is still canceled according to Amtrak so we are going to drive. I'll have 3 in my car. What's the best route to go from Northern VA? Up I-95 or North on 15 to I-78E (thru Allentown)? Most importantly, how far out from NYC should I get my last tank of gas?

also driving up from DC with the family tomorrow to support the marathon.

take 95 north and take the NJ Turnpike. Get gas before you get on the turnpike. Depending on where you're staying you could take the GW Bridge to go uptown or the Lincoln Tunnel to get to midtown.

Pretty easy and don't forget your EZ pass.

if you need any help, feel free to message me.

I'm a big fan of avoiding I95. Stay away from the coast.
78 through Allentown is a really good plan.
I'm in central jersey, and people are driving out to Allentown area to buy gas because there is not much here. (intersection of 78 and 287).
4 hour lines are normal when you actually find one that has fuel.
So buy gas before you are out of PA.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring extra fuel with you in a gas can if you aren't going anywhere where it would be illegal to do so. (Tunnels and such??).
Hopefully the situation improves soon.

Holland Tunnel is busses only at the moment. So it's Lincoln Tunnel or GWB to get to Manhattan tomorrow. (unless things change).

I'm also signed up to run. I work in Manhattan (but there's no power at my office). I think getting to packet pickup is going to be more difficult for me than the race.

Good Luck

my wife has volunteered three years in a row, twice at aids stations in Queens and once at the the finish line helping blind runners from the Achilles group. She will do the race next year. This is what her experience has been: many "volunteers" just show up to get some coffee and donuts, a free hat, t-shirt and poncho and then they leave after one hour of "hard work".

Many thanks! The route you suggested is 30 miles shorter. I was just worried that I would need to gas up further away on this route but coming from the west I could get a tank in Bethlehem or maybe even a tad closer?

I vote for "North on 15 to I-78E." Its a more scenic route.

Have a good race. NY Marathon was a fun race for me. Hope all goes well.

i drive up to NYC at least a dozen times a year, this is the route we always take, much more direct, lots of rest areas to stop at, definitely not as scenic but it's faster. I'm planning on getting gas in DE at the DE Welcome Center (probably one of the nicest rest areas you will ever see), once on the turnpike it's only 2 hours to NYC (~120 miles) so I should have more than enough gas to make it to NYC and back to the DE border to refuel again.

Where are you in NoVA? Unless you're out west towards Leesburg 15N-78 is WAY out of the way in my opinion. Another consideration, I think if you go 95N straight, you have to get through Philly which can have traffic depending on when you get there.

Was just watching CNN and they were interviewing Staten Island residents who are outraged that the marathon was going forward. They said with all the looting and lack of resources to take even 1 policeman away from helping them to patrol a marathon is wrong. From the RDs perspective they say many charities benefit from this race and it would hurt them not to continue. Any thoughts?

lots of outrage that the event is happening. i've been reading this FB page today https://www.facebook.com/...cMarathon?ref=stream and there's a growing mob mentality condemning those coming to race and especially those making the decision to move ahead. Love the comments from those suggesting the organizers postpone the event till next weekend or run loops around Central Park instead. Simple! Then you have those blasting the corporate $pon$or$ who've put money into the event while people die, as if there's a correlation. But it's those same sponsors who are now a part of this:

http://newyorkcitymarathon.runnersworld.com/...n-and-donations.html

A difficult scenario all around and you can never please everyone. I hope the race goes well and that a lot of great things come out of it that help the recovery efforts.

I also read through a lot of those Facebook comments and I'm taken aback by all the outrage. I'm a New Yorker and I'm running Sunday but I do feel conflicted about it. I'm uptown so I have power and have had friends and family without power staying with me the last couple days. Luckily a loss of power and flooded cars is the worst that my friends and family experienced. Like everyone else I see on the news how awful things are for a lot of people. I don't believe that holding the marathon will be making life worse for any of the people who have lost their homes to this storm but it won't make life better for those people either. I'm hoping to hear back about volunteer opportunities for Saturday and will be running Sunday.

One thing I don't understand is why the anti marathon contingent isnt outraged that the giants are playing in New Jersey on Sunday? Anyone who has been to a pro football game knows how many cops work those games. Jersey is in even worse shape than NYC. Nobody has even mentioned canceling the football game.

We live in Deer Park on Long Island and my wife is entered in the race. We were going to cancel, then it occured to both of us that we would just be sitting in a dark cold house on Sunday (most likely) so we might as well do the race. Now things are getting very complicated.

It started with printing the paper you need to pick up your packet. No power or internet anywhere. So I used my smart phone and logged on to down load the pdf. Then I could drag it to my computer and print it, but the site prevents a mobile device from down loading it. After much thought and calling a son in law that is an IT guy I realized I could set up my phone as a hot spot for my computer and trick the site.

Next trick is getting to the expo. Gas is in very short supply so we don't want to drive into Manhattan with our neighbor in the back seat. The LIRR seems to be working so we are going to try that, I just hope we can get home.

The local running store has hired 3 buses to take everyone to the start and she is on one of those. Those buses will take her home afterwards but she has to walk to the top of the park to get back to them.

I feel for anyone that is not local trying to figure this out.

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"...the street finds its own uses for things"

My wife and I are driving down from Boston tomorrow morning. We're staying in Brooklyn and trying to figure how to get into Manhattan for packet pickup. One option would be to park in the Bronx or Queens, take the subway in and out from there, then drive down to Brooklyn.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
Coaching: https://bybtricoaching.com/ - accepting athletes for 2023

It's a bit of an apples and oranges thing. The Giants game is a destination point of what, 1 square mile? You can make do with much fewer resources in a smaller area, even with a larger crowd. Handling the distribution of portable toilets, water stands, emergency services, and more over a 26 mile long stretch is logistically more challenging and a bigger hit on resources. Would you rather have the roads open for FEMA trucks delivering food and water to affected citizens or the local mob scene delivering those sanitation items for a race? Then throw in the fact that the marathon needs thousands of volunteers whereas the football game is staffed by employees. I'm sure volunteers are in abundance in the area passing out food, water, essential supplies, etc. Stuff to make peoples' lives better until things improve. Is the marathon a more noble calling at this time?

Last night I actually had a dream that probably stemmed from a conversation with my wife. She said they'd have to put an asterisk by the winners' names due to some top runners perhaps not being able to make it for the race. The dream I had was of 3 American women on the podium for the race, and the winner looked a bit guilty for having won.

I believe they are running buses from Atlantic Ave(the Barclays Center) into Manhattan

If they had any sense they would cancel the marathon immediately. Send apologies to the athletes, free entry next year, whatever, just cancel the damned thing.

Lower manhattan still has no power, many buildings have no water, there are muggings each night, it looks like a war zone. Staten Island is in chaos. Holding a marathon now is in very poor taste. Use the support staff to help rebuild these communities and generate goodwill that will last for years. The idea of using resources to police a foot race when the area faces such immediate problems is crazy.

Just drive it. George Washington Bridge then down West Side Highway. Make sure you have enough gas before you hit the areas that have been hit hard.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

+1,000,000

Very well stated.

totally agree
Bad move to go forward with this. You can tell yourself you are running to show support, etc, but really how selfless are your motivations?

I grew up in Northern New Jersey and recently moved to Staten Island. We were in flood area and evacuated to NJ but luckily we were spared. I went down to the worst areas in Staten Island yesterday to check on a family members house which was completely destroyed and looted. The destruction looks like its out of a movie scene. There is no Red Cross, no FEMA just residents freezing with no power, food, water or warmth. Those are the people who deserve the warmth blankets, those are the people who need the water, the food, the generators to get them power.

I'm not against the marathon, I actually think its great, however with that said, it's in complete bad taste to still have it this weekend while 7 miles away they are picking bodies out of marshes and burt homes. The water, blankets, food, generators and police are much better utilized helping its residents.

It's a toxic topic. No right decision can be made. Most people understand both sides. At least many marathoners and participating companies raise money to help.

I guess on Monday we'll know what should have done.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Yep....so in a nutshell, everything is being done to get the whole area up and running (transit system, etc) only to have the city shut down again. Man our priorites are out of whack in this world!

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RunFAR Racing Services
http://www.Run-far.com
Team Cambridge
Hilltop Bicycle Repair

unbelievable. they haven't finished pulling the dead bodies out of the muck yet.

~~ k

I disagree, the wrong decision is CLEARLY being made and everyday they continue down this path they continue making the wrong decision. Gas is needed for generators, not buses shuttling runners from point to point. Bodies are still being pulled out of the mess in Staten Island and they are going to start the race there?? People on this thread are trying to drive into Manhatten, I don't care how many people you have in your car I doubt the city needs any extra congestion right now. Raising money to help while continuing to support this race is a joke, its nothing more than token to clear their conscience!

There is not a single rational person that would have been outraged at an immediate decision to cancel the race. A decision to cancel now will upset the people that have already traveled to NY to do the race, but it would still be the right decision. For the people planning on traveling to the race on this thread, I would urge you to reconsider.

Further, I heard on the radio this AM that displaced NY residents who are staying in NY hotels are gonna get kicked out because of the incoming wave of runners. Already w/o a place to go since they don't have power (or homes for some), they now get displaced again.

Race clearly needs to be cancelled.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

I live right off 4th ave in Brooklyn, we were totally spared, never lost power no flooding in our basement so really thank g-d we came out unscathed.
Considering that I live 30 seconds from the course I always come out to cheer, but this year I will not be cheering, I have no interest in having the marathon, it is not going to "help take my mind off it" as the politicians claim.
Like others have already mentioned, they are still pulling bodies out of flooded houses in Staten Island, still no subway service between the 2 biggest boroughs, so no going to work in a week.
The 2 large supermarkets in my area are still closed because they were flooded, I can't put any gas in my car, need me to continue?.
So yeah I think that the NYPD, FDNY, volunteers etc.. have more important things to do right now.
How about ING donating the funds to the thousands of people that have lost everything they had in their entire life, in Breezy Point, The Rockaways, Staten Island, Red Hook etc...

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http://www.instagram.com/cyclewise

If I was bumped for a runner this weekend I'd probably completely lose my shit and I'm a runner myself.

If they want the community to support this race in the future, it seems like a wise move to cancel this year and encourage the athletes, volunteers and support staff to help the community by volunteering and/or donating money. I’m sure some athletes will be upset, but it’s not like they’re canceling the race because it’s going to be a little hot. This is a very good reason to cancel a marathon.

I read some of the comments on an article about this and I find the comments about bringing “normalcy” to the area comical. I imagine how I might feel if my house was destroyed and my car floated away. I highly doubt I would be excited about the marathon and view it as a sign of things returning to normal. I would probably be thinking, “if you guys have so much goddamn energy, how about grabbing a pair of work gloves and cleaning this shit up?” And I’m an endurance athlete. Imagine how Average Joe, who doesn’t even care about the marathon on a good day, feels.

A good friend of mine predicted this as she ran into a similar problems shortly after 9/11. I would absolutely go fucking bananas if I was NYer and was kicked out of my hotel room because of some self absorbed marathoner. Right now, if you don't need to be in NY, get the fuck out and send a check. NY will recover to its former glory, but it needs more than 1 week.

I just don't get the "defense" of people saying "But these runners have trained for months, spent thousands of dollars and bought plane tickets, etc."

Seriously? It is a fookin' marathon....peoples lives have been destroyed. Clearly, as endurance athletes, we can all empathize with the runners......but please, let's use some perspective here.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

it may be news to you but not everyone coming to nyc from abroad is a "self absorbed marathoner." what would you suggest someone, who lives in say, italy or france who booked a nonrefundable trip for his/her family, do? just piss away $5,000 to make you feel better? why should someone who lives in a loft in tribeca get to bump someone who booked his or her room a year ago just so said loft dweller has a nice place to camp out while his/her loft doesn't have electricity?

Every day, people are getting shot in NYC. Every day, homeless people die in NYC. Every day, children in Africa die from dehydration.

I decided to get up and help Sandy victims whether I run the marathon or not.

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

Because that person in Tribeca has a life in NY and someone that has $5,000 to spend on a hobby is likely to recover just fine as well. That runner now has $5,000 teaching moment for his/her children on how to be caring and respectful human being.

All the more reason to not give criminals easier targets. I am glad you are helping though Uli, all I can do is send a check.

Uh-huh.....the ol' "dying children in Africa" retort.


Good for you. Enjoy your run.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

you clearly are delusional. anyone living in a loft in tribeca who now is paying $500 a night to stay at a midtown hotel while he/she waits for con ed to turn the electricity on (i know multiple people who fit this profile) doesn't get to displace someone who already booked a room (no matter how much disdain you might have for foreigners). you can have your "teaching moments" on your own time with your kids. who gets access to $500 a night hotel rooms is not anywhere near the top of the priority list in NYC right now even though you would like it to be.

That pretty much defines a "self absorbed marathoner", IMO. Not to mention a gross generalization of people who ahve been affected by Sandy and may be getting bumped form a hotel room.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

I live at the jersey shore. My house and my family and friends were mostly spared any major damage. My first reaction was that NY could use a party and it was a good thing. But then I had to fight my way home last night from work, in the dark, present my id to police at road blocks set up to prevent looting, grub around in the dark for batteries, eat cold food, sleep in a freezing house, wake up to no hot water cause they shut the gas off, toast a bagel on a grill outside, empty my fridge of all the ruined food, and then I started to think that running the marathon is a bad idea. And i made out fine compared to thousands of people. If my house was gone, or flooded, or if my store had been looted, I would be furious they were doing this. It's a terrible idea.

That said, they are doing it, and it will still be a good party. if you are driving in from out of the area, give an extra 3 hours to get into NYC and to find parking. Parking is extra brutal. Do not expect to gas up at the last gas station in delaware, upstate or pennsylvania. Do not expect to be able to get gas in NJ or on the way out of NJ after the race. Hour long waits. I had to drive back from upstate yesterday. I got gas on the thruway in Poughkeepsie. the wait was probably a half hour at the last rest stop in NY. You should try and enter NJ with a full tank of gas, and make sure you have enough gas to get back out of NJ.

It is what it is. Good luck to all the runners!

You have demonstrate over and over again how delusional you are by your posts in this thread. Not sure why I even acknowledge them.

For everyone of your self-described "anyone living in a loft in tribeca" there are equal if not more "regular citizens" that are cramped 2-3 families into these hotel rooms as they have possibly have nowhere else to go but shelters if there dwellings are currently uninhabitable.

which residents from downtown do you think checked into midtown hotels? i know A LOT of people who did and every one of them can afford the $500 a night cost. i also know a lot of other people from downtown who cannot afford that and either are living with no utilities in their apartments or have moved in with friends/family uptown. you are damn right i generalized that the people currently in midtown hotels who are "worried" that marathoners who previously booked at their hotels are well off.

The more you talk, the more you prove the point.

right. there's no such thing as friends and family who live uptown and all of those people i know who are staying with friends and family uptown don't exist. your understanding of the issues at hand is quite impressive.

i wasn't aware that writing qualifies as "talking." that was a nice response on your part and a good job completely avoiding the topic. you might as well bend over and enjoy this weekend because, no matter how much you whine on here, the marathon is going to go on this weekend.

Let's assume that you are correct and EVRYONE who is staying in mid-town hotels is extremely well off. Even with that, your response is essentially "Meh....fook them. Let them go back to their apartments with no power, heat, water, etc. I got a fookin MARATHON to run!!"

As I said, pretty much defines "self absorbed marathoner." YMMV.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

Fantastic posting. Thank you!

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CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

It really doesn't matter if the displaced people can afford 500/night hotels. What matters is that they are not staying in there because they don't like their apt, they are living there because their apt is boarderline uninhabitable (no water for a week is enough to get me out of my house). They are now being displaced by people leaving their fine homes from outside the city so they can run a marathon and fullfill some meaningless life goal.

Like I said before, I'm not sure why some people even want to travel to NYC on this trip with the city half-crippled. What fun is that?

Well said.

https://www.facebook.com/...ts/10151080636016626

Leaving "fun" aside, if I were scheduled to run the NYC Marathon, there is no way in hell I would show up at this point anyway. Just my personal POV.

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams

I'm in South Jersey and gas doesn't seem to be a problem down here

Maybe filling up around Exit 5 or 6 or so on the Turnpike might work? YMMV, literally

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Yeah, I'd kinda be ashamed to show my face, as grimace-y and pain-striken it might be. If I were to get a water bottle that I knew could be given to a dehydrated baby on Staten Island, or realized the the chirps from the timing mats were powered by generators that could warm an elderly person in a cold & dark North Jersey home, the guilt would double me over harder than even the worst cramps ever could

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Gas situation in Monmouth County is pretty grim. The further north/east you go in NJ, the worse it will get.

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"Go yell at an M&M"

Hey bt...,

You can tell your dad that his opinions are not so amateurish after all.
I'm planning a ski trip to Utah in March, does he have any opinions where the powder stash will be in Park City? :>)


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If gas is not a problem in South Jersey, then my recommendation is that travelers keep a full tank and stop at each rest stop that does not have a hour wait and top off your tank. You could end up idling for 2 hours going into the lincoln tunnel

Who was the poster that warned of this storm over a week ago? THey mentioned their friend was excellent at watching storms and their patterns and predicted this storm way before the news did.

That person is going to be my new best friend.

South Jersey gas is fine. I still don't know if I will race, but with Amtrak and NJ Transit both back (somewhat), don't drive to NYC. Take the train from Hamilton or Metropark. You don't need the hassle.

I guess I have to make a call by tomorrow morning, but I wish the race was not taking place Sunday.

I suspect you don't quite grasp how hotels work or who is to blame here. If you want to be angry at anyone about "bumping" people from hotel rooms then be angry at the hotel. Ultimately its their decision. If they don't want to bump people then they need to call the incoming guests and tell them their reservations have been cancelled and refund their money. Its that simple. If they chose not to, then be angry at them, not at the marathoners or whomever else is about to checkin. This is NYC, and three days later it will be another group of people headed for those hotel rooms.... the day after those people leave there will be another group right behind them.

My wife (in the US) and a friend from Scotland are headed into NYC today (originally for the marathon). They decided rather than lose all their non-refundable money they would spend the weekend volunteering to help out with disaster relief. They have already contacted an orginasation asking for help and made arrangements to work for them for the weekend. She called the hotel ahead of time to confirm and they didn't say anything about "can you free up a room for someone that has been displaced". I can tell you with 100% certainty that if a hotel told my wife they were bumping someone taking refuge there to make room for her she would sleep at the airport all weekend or volunteer around the clock for three days and then sleep when she got home.

gas situation is only worsening. in northern NJ yest someone know spent a total of 5 hours waiting for gas and failed to get any. this morning there are long lines outside every gas station including those with Lno gas" signs. anyone coming by car should carry spare gas in cans

+1 to your wife and friend! Good on them.

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Beyond Aero

"Grind it til' you find it..."

Please thank your wife and friend. That is heartwarming to read that

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"Go yell at an M&M"

Given the gas situation only I think it is irresponsible for the marathon to continue. Since public transportation, trains, and flights are not operating under a normal schedule I assume a lot of people going in for the marathon are driving. If I was in a 5 hour line waiting for gas for my generator I'd be pretty pissed if I knew half the people I was waiting behind were knowingly driving into NYC for a marathon.

Not to mention all the gas-powered generators they will be running.....

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Chicago Cubs - 2016 WORLD SERIES Champions!!!!

"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams