New York Thoughts

Runners are all a little bit crazy, myself included. Off our rockers so to speak, but for the most part in a good way.

I can't imagine the heartbreak of the runners who were already up in New York. Who were literally at the Race Expo, picking up their packets when the announcement was made.

I can't imagine the hundreds, possibly thousands of runners who got the news shortly after their planes had landed at JFK/LaGuardia; the first thing they see when turning their phones back on.

However

I also can't imagine suddenly not having a home. Every single possession that I own suddenly irrelevant due to water damage. Being stranded in the midst of a gigantic city because I don't have any gas.

I can't imagine any of that.

I see both sides of the heartbreak. And I have to say, I fully support the cancellation.

This is coming from the runner who trained for months to PR at Boston, only to have to run a 'smart' slow-paced race in the midst of nearly 90 degree temperatures. This is coming from the girl who started training for the race she was suppose to run tomorrow back in July. This is coming from, me, Kait, who is currently living pay check to pay check so that she can get the Physical Therapy she needs to start running again.

Boston, April 2012

I love running, I understand the passion that goes into it. When you train for something for months, literally schedule your life around your runs, deplete your social life so that you can get up early to train ... and the race itself doesn't happen... I get that heartbreak. You have every right to be sad, to mourn.

But not to be angry. Please don't be mad. Because more anger, more hatred, more pissed off people... that's the last thing this country, the East Coast, and specially New York City needs right now.

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Because although The New York Marathon, The New York Road Runners, Mayor Bloomberg - whoever it was who decided to cancel the biggest race in the country about 36 hours out - did it in a horrible shitshow of a fashion, I believe it was 100% the right call.

If you have any a shred of a heart, you just have to see the bigger picture. In the midst of a city in shambles, still scrambling to get back on their feet, still half under water - literally - this was simply not the weekend to make the focus point running. It was, is, and will be for awhile about recovery. (something that every runner is familiar with)

Not a good state.

"If they take one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon, I will scream," New York City Councilman James Oddo, who represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, said on his Twitter account. "We have people with no homes and no hope right now." - source

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My hope is now that the thousands of runners who were already in New York when the announcement was made, that you are still able to do something while you are there. Any way that you possibly can, help another human out. You are already there, so why not?

Cheers to recovery -