As I sat in Chicago, watching in horror as “the shore” was washed away, and friends and family lost power and suffered damage to their homes, and waited to hear from everyone, I realized that in times of disaster it is easier to put things in perspective. What really matters? health, family, friends, safety, love, compassion. (Even President Obama and Chris Christie found common ground in the home state yesterday…)
So why am I telling you this? In thinking about what is important and keeping things in perspective, I have to say, I am really torn about the decision yesterday to hold the New York City Marathon on Sunday as planned.
[In the spirit of full disclosure, I am still planning to try to run the NY City Marathon if they have it AND I can get there from Chicago in time. (It will be my 14th time toeing the line and I need 15 by 2015 for guaranteed entry for life.) Anyone who knows me knows that I love the New York City Marathon (and I love New York). I really do. It is my favorite day of the year. Better than my birthday– and if you know me, you know I love my birthday! My husband and I are flying out of JFK on Monday for a long planned 10th anniversary trip, so we need to get there regardless.]
That being said, I do not understand how it will be possible to pull off an event of this magnitude and size given the condition of the city. So many people are without power and water and the subways and other forms of mass transit are still down. Central Park is still closed. 2 major hospitals are closed. Many business are shuttered. People are really hurting.
I trained hard this year. I was expecting a strong performance compared to the last two injury prone years. That is where the perspective comes in for me. This is not about me. Is it unfortunate for people who trained and planned and want to run? Yes. Is it necessary to have the race to show that New York can “do it”? I don’t think so. I liked Christine Brennan’s piece in USA Today on why she thinks they should cancel the race, this one from Business Week and this one from blogger Chris Dunst.
On the other hand, if they can safely pull off a race and bring money and resources into the city without disrupting the clean up efforts, I guess they should “go on with the show.” I have not found many stories other than the original report suggesting this is the case. I do have a few optimistic friends, though.
What do I think they should do? Maybe the race should all be in Central Park? That could accelerate the clean up of the park and not cause a massive strain the transit system and on all of the boroughs. I really think they should postpone the full marathon until spring. Why not make the NYC Half a full marathon and hold two marathons in 2013 when the city is back on track.
Regardless of what the final decision is, there are good arguments for and against having the marathon on Sunday. I just hope whatever the decision is that the runners are safe and that there is an eye toward helping the city to recover versus adding strain to already constrained resources. I am not sure how it is possible, but I sure hope it works. And if there are changes or issues, I hope not to hear (or utter) a single complaint from runners. We all need to put it in perspective, this is a race, but for the great majority of us, it is really just for fun after all!
What do you think? Should they “go on with the show” or postpone?