I suspect this post may not be one of my more popular ones. And I'm sorry, I still haven't gone through all the contest entries. I'll try to announce by the end of the week.
Unless you've been hiding in a bear cave for the past week, you know about the giant storm that hit the east coast. You've seen pictures of the destruction, and you've possibly even seen footage of the first bi-partisan event in years (Chris Christie saying Obama has done a good job responding. Whoa.). And if you're a runner, you've probably seen an article speculating whether the New York City marathon will go on.
There are different camps on this, with some saying that it's ridiculous to put on a marathon during this time, and others saying that the show must go on.
I believe that while there should be no major safety compromises in putting on the New York City Marathon (and I certainly don't approve of people badgering NYRR during the storm), if it at all possible, the show should go on.
Here's why:
Diverted Resources: The most common argument I've seen is that the
money of the entry fees and food should be diverted to people in need
from the disaster. NYRR isn't FEMA, and whether we
approve of this use or not, using the entrance money for something else
would be a gross mismanagement of funds. Our federal government uses taxes for disaster relief, which I completely approve of, but they can't seize money from NYRR.
Personnel. There has also been the argument that police
officers, firemen, etc. should be doing more important things on
marathon morning. My understanding is that the extra personnel
used for events like the NYC marathon was paid for by event entrants as
well and is on top of the normal level of service. Like...on marathon morning in any city, it's not like the rest of
the city goes without a police force or firemen. There's still the
argument that the extra personnel should be put on disaster relief,
which I agree with should the situation still be awful come Sunday
morning. I don't think anyone is saying that NYRR should pull firemen
off a burning house But if those most problems aren't addressed by this Sunday, the disaster relief program has major problems. I believe in New York's ability to get people on their feet by then.
Additionally, I'd argue the same thing with the volunteers.
While there may be a small amount of people who would volunteer to clean
up the streets if there were no marathon, I'd argue that most of the
volunteers specifically wanted to be part of the marathon, not just a
volunteer effort. And just like NYRR's funds, people's free time can't
be automatically diverted somewhere else.
Personal Investment: I have seen the argument that it is ridiculous to inconvenience those affected by the storm so that people can parade around New York looking for personal bests. This minimizes the sacrifices (financial and personal) that many have taken to get to the marathon. While my own personal investment is pretty small (my brother lives in New York so it's just the cost of the entry fee and plane ticket), for those who have spent thousands and planned for months trying to get to NYC. For them it IS a big deal. Not as big of a deal as a burning house, but it's ok to care.
Comparison: This isn't 9-11. Or even Katrina. This may be the point that may make me sound like the biggest jerk. But I have heard comparisons in the NYC marathon debate to the time after 9-11 when baseball was trying to figure out how to change their schedule. This is not to minimize the despair of the people who have lost loved ones or had property damage in this disaster, but to compare Sandy to 9-11 or even Katrina is kind of awful, in my opinion. They are not the same and thus the aftermath should be considered differently.
Cash Money: I hate to say it, but there is a ton of money that comes
into New York for the New York City Marathon. I am sure the city
doesn't want to miss out on it (as is completely justified), and I'm
guessing most small businesses will be happy to get the business of the
tourists in town. Also, cancelling or moving the New York City Marathon
would surely have crazy financial consequences for NYRR. And it
wants to survive, just like any other business. Can't blame them for
that.
The Triumph: I think it would be cool for New York to show the world how quickly they can come back from Sandy. If they can do it there, they can do it anywhere :).
So...what do you think? I truly don't mean to offend anyone by this post, but it is how I feel right now. Educate me if you think I'm wrong!
Well, I hope to see you there Margot!
ReplyDeleteIt's on like Donkey Kong. I can't imagine the race being completely cancelled. It will be held in some capacity for at least the top runners and anyone who can make it there.
We'll be hitting the road tomorrow to drive up since flying doesn't look like it's going to happen.
Most of my relatives in NJ and on Long Island don't have power and aren't expected to get it back until Monday. Everyone is safe, but my parents lost their property on Long Beach Island. This weekend will be a good diversion for them before they have to deal with the realit of the clean-up. They want the race to happen as well.
Luckily the friends we're staying with in the city say their area looks fine.I agree, this is just another test for NYC to show it's resiliency, and it will.
I agree with all of this, but mostly because it's New York City, and it's (arguably) the greatest city on Earth.
ReplyDeleteRe: cash money
ReplyDeleteDo the hotels have space for all the out of towners? Or are they full up with people displaced from their homes? Do the grocery stores and restaurants have the food, power, etc to feed the masses that flood into town? Will racers even be able to get into town with all the craziness at the airports and cancelled flights?
Not disagreeing (or agreeing) with you, just throwing a few thoughts out there.
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DeleteMeh, too many typos the first time.
ReplyDeleteThey'll probably offer a generous deferral policy due to those obstacles, but anyone who can actually make it there will end up running IMO.
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ReplyDeleteI 100% agree! I've found so many of the comments about how it should not happen and how we're jerks if we care so frustrating. We're not coming in to parade around, but more to celebrate this city that we all love and care about. If we didn't love New York, we'd choose a cheaper marathon in the first place. This is the perfect opportunity to bring in some positivity and joy! I love everything about this post!
ReplyDeleteWas it as bad as 9-11? No, absolutely not. Do I have a full grasp on how damaging Katrina was? No, because I wasn't affected by it. But (and I understand that you're trying to not sound insensitive) the damage done is absolutely incredible. It is not a quick clean up where the areas damaged will spend a weekend cleaning up and it's like it never happened. There are millions- if not billions- of dollars in damages, and the entire coast of NJ and NY are destroyed. I don't mean to sound insensitive to your race, because if I had planned on running it I would be worried too. But the bigger story is the hurricane and the damage done, not a road race.
ReplyDeleteSorry. I just feel that this hurricane/post-tropical storm was so much bigger than a marathon.
I made the Katrina and 9-11 comparisons mostly bc the death toll was astounding from both (between 2k and 3k for both I believe). It's easy to forget that.
DeleteAlso agree with you - particularly on Jersey and the New York shore that the story is bigger than the marathon. But the marathon (and any other major events going on in the area) are part of it.
Sure, the death toll of both 9/11 and Katrina was significant. But the economic impact of this storm - and that's barely even including the damage to the city's infrastructure - is MUCH more significant from Sandy than from 9/11. And the problem with first responders is not the *money* involved in dispatching them, but the number. There are only so many of them, and they will have all been working ridiculously long days in difficult circumstances by then. Even for time-and-a-half overtime pay provided by NYRR, the marathon still might feel frivolous to them.
DeleteMargo, I really appreciate your post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLauren, no one is saying that they think the marathon is bigger or more important than Sandy and her terrible aftermath. I do think, though, that the city, the FDNY and the NYPD are in a best position to judge whether or not they feel that the marathon can go forward in the midst of storm clean-up and rescue. Both the FDNY and NYPD are powerful organizations, and there is no way that New York Road Runners (NYRR) could force their hands into doing something that first responders felt they couldn't handle or didn't want to do or felt was unsafe. And there is no way that the Mayor, no matter what you may think about him, would allow the marathon to happen if anyone thought there might be live wires or other dangers afoot.
I don't want to stir up controversy on Margo's blog, but after reading comments on NYRR's Facebook page for the past two days (not recommended if you value your sanity), I'm really tired of all of the people trying to prove how much more sensitive and humane they are than anybody else by tsk-tsking anyone who would DARE OMG to even think about running when a tragedy has occurred. Tragedy occurs every day, people. Yes, it is a terrible time in the NY/NJ/CT area, but don't put on your halo and lecture everyone else about what a great person you are and how you question their priorities, etc.
Margo, my running team is volunteering at one of the water tables, so I will be screaming my lungs out for you if I see you. Good luck!
And it would have been nice of me to spell Margot's name correctly. Cabin fever, folks. Sorry.
DeleteI agree with you. AND I think that fundraising for relief efforts would benefit IMMENSELY by having the marathon in town. I think I heard that more than half of the entries are from somewhere else. So there is also a huge upside to having that kind of money flow into the area. And it will help the areas to have the boom in business as well.
ReplyDeleteIt should not be done at the expense of the cleanup efforts. But if both can happen, then they should.
I agree with every word of your post, and I will be there running. I think the race will be a good thing for my home city and the city I love, and I think that Mayor Bloomberg and the others that made the decision to keep the race "on" are the only ones able to make the decision with full knowledge of all the variables.
ReplyDeleteI am excited it is still on and can't wait to run the streets of NY. :)
I couldn't agree more. If resources are truly needed to clean up, then that is most important, but no one has gotten anywhere by wallowing in destruction, and sometimes the best thing cities can do is move on as planned, and take your mind off of things. Besides, it will be amazing to see the solidarity that the city shows after this storm! Do I think that the marathon should be put on if one person's life will be in danger because of it? Absolutely not. Do I think that the city should do everything they can to make this incredible, inspiring event happen - yes, and I think they will. Because that's how we do.
ReplyDeleteI agree for sure, the show must go on! Now run your heart out little bunny and more importantly just try to get on tv dam it. I'll be watching for you!
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree. The only concern I have is about the police on the course. I would expect that by Sunday, you're right, there won't be any urgent need for them to be somewhere else, so there's not reason not to have the race. But the reality is that all those officers probably had to sign up weeks or months ago to agree to work on race morning. I expect most are off-duty, being paid at their OT rate. But when they agreed to work the race, none expected that there would have been mandatory OT in the preceding days, or the volume of work they're presently handling during a normal shift right now. So in that sense, I think it's bad to proceed w/ the marathon and make them all do more work that is, in reality, not exactly necessary (I mean, the world wouldn't end if the race was cancelled). It must suck for them to have worked an insane week and then have to go out there and direct traffic on their off-duty time, having had no guess that they'd be as worn out by Sunday as they likely will be. But at the same time, I overwhelmingly think, though it will suck for those officers to be overworked, they will be paid for their time and many of them will still be proud to help and show off how great that city really is, coming back from a disaster or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI ran NYC last year, and it was a humbling experience for a lot of different reasons. One of the main ones is because of the city itself. I agree that coming together for a long-standing, historical event like the marathon would mean a lot to NYC in the aftermath of this crazy storm. If they can pull it off, it would be a huge morale booster!
ReplyDeleteI'm a New Yorker and right now the city is a complete mess. Half the city is without power and water(myself included), traffic lights aren't working downtown, mass transit isn't running(but will be partially back tomorrow!), people are looting in some parts of the city -- it's pretty scary here. I really, REALLY hope that everything works out and comes together for the marathon by Sunday but right now it's pretty hard to imagine that it will. :(
ReplyDeleteYes, the comparison to Katrina and 9-11 did make you sound like the biggest jerk, but to be honest, this whole post makes you sound like one. You have NO idea what the city looks like at the moment. In some neighborhoods, it's almost business as usual. In others, not so much. Right now, in Bellevue Hospital, the army/national guard members as well as staff members are carrying patients down 18 floors to evacuate them. They are doing this in the dark, with no phones, no toilets, no water. Prior to this, they had been on bucket-brigade duty to hoist gas to power the emergency generator on the roof up 15 flights for the last 48 hours. People are collecting drinking water from hydrants on the lower east side because they don't have another way to get it. And the temperatures are about to drop close to freezing in the midst of all this.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me nauseated to hear you talk about how the marathon won't be a diversion of resources because they are all already set aside. You clearly have NO idea how disaster planning and execution work. As someone who has helped lay out disaster plans, I can tell you that you are WRONG. The normal daily work flow goes out the window and it's "all hands on deck" without regard for overtime and with minimal accommodation for fatigue when a disaster happens. There is no such thing as a resource that is "set aside." Everyone who had planned to work some overtime to help cover the marathon is already working overtime. The marathon most certainly WILL divert resources from this.
I hope the marathon will go on, if only to showcase the spirit and resilience of the affected part of the country. Your diatribe, however, makes me wish it were cancelled.
I don't know. I think Margot was pretty clear that she DOESN'T know all the facts, and that she was reasoning based on *her understanding* of things.
DeleteNot everyone has disaster planning and execution experience to draw from.
I think bottom line, none of us know all the facts (unless you are mayor bloomberg, in which case, hello).
DeleteI was also clear that I hope that the marathon does NOT go on at the expense of sick people in hospitals, etc. Sorry I upset you - that was not my intention. Next time leave your name though, it make for a more fair discussion.
Although in all honesty, it is interesting to hear from someone with disaster management experience.
DeleteNow that I've calmed down a little bit, I'll try to elaborate. First, I'd love to see NYC pull off the marathon 7 days after it was ravaged by a storm, but I don't think it's a great idea.
Delete1) Safety. I'm assuming the course isn't in terrible shape, but I'm not entirely confident of that. Even if the course is clear, what about the EMTs/medics necessary to support the runners and crowds? First, they've been working non-stop all week - they are exhausted and I wouldn't blame them for not being on their game. Second, even if the course itself is clear, are the routes from the course to local hospitals clear? Given the shutdown of Bellevue, NYU Langone, and Staten Island, and the transfer of their patients to other facilities are the other hospitals in a position to handle any volume that comes their way? Based on what I've seen where I am, I'm sure the current demand on hospitals is high. Anyone on oxygen or other medical treatments at home that require electricity can't be cared for at home right now - many of them are literally sitting and taking up beds in other ERs and hospitals, leaving less room/staff support for those who need acute care.
2) There are neighborhoods within the 5 boroughs that have not seen any relief or first attempts at assessment much less clearing debris/making things safe. Staten Island and the Rockaways come to mind. Even IF those neighborhoods are reached and have been assessed , one could argue that if NYC doesn't need all of its resources, shouldn't they direct them to other states that are still in need rather than an athletic event? There are unattended fires burning in NJ currently because gas mains are just open to air with gas rushing out.
3) I understand that argument that Bloomberg made that small businesses stand to lose a lot without the marathon's business, but to be honest it seems that many businesses are not even in a position to benefit quite yet. If their lights aren't on, it doesn't matter how many people are in town.
Thanks for the input.
DeleteI think that if the streets are clear and they are able to have the marathon, they should, it will rise everyone's spirits! Plus I totally agree that this marathon brings in tons of revenue for the city which they definitely need at this time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not running NYC this year, but I think I'm mostly with you on this.
ReplyDeleteI can believe that, at least to some degree, resources will be diverted from other efforts in order to handle the marathon. And that's unfortunate. But what's the alternative? I completely agree that it's inappropriate to simply assume that all of the funds from the marathon would be or should be diverted to the rescue effort. That's private money held in a private organization, albeit one that works closely with (and pays for the services of) municipal governments.
Maybe it would be nice if NYRR gave runners the option of donating their $250 (or whatever it was) reg fee to rescue efforts in exchange for guaranteed entry (and re-payment of the entry fee) next year.
I agree. The option to donate would be fantastic.
DeleteI agree with you Margot that if possible, it would be very uplifting for the marathon to go on. It is something that people can rally around...and would be something to prove, yet again, that New York will bounce back from tragedy.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, it shouldn't go on if the city and its people are not ready, but the NYCM is something that the city takes great pride in and would be a great way for people from outside New York to show how much they appreciate all of the effort.
I really disagree with you on this one - and this is as someone who has run NYCM twice and thinks it's the best large marathon there is. I would LOVE to see it go on and I am supporting all my friends who choose to run it, but I'm afraid that the city has put too much emphasis on "Yay New York pride!" in how they made their decision. It's nice to show our spirit and all, but that's not going to help us actually fix the damage.
ReplyDeleteI live on the Upper West Side, which has been largely unaffected aside from the swarms of "refugees" coming up here. However, those I've met from Staten Island have all said variations on "Staten Island basically doesn't exist anymore." I think it's appalling that NYRR is going to bring over an army of volunteers to build their usual tent city for the start of the race when just a few miles away are people whose homes have been destroyed. Why aren't the volunteers helping those people?
From a financial standpoint, sure, the marathon brings in a ton of money. But so do the thousands of businesses in New York, many of which aren't open because workers can't get to them. The city is losing millions of dollars a day because our transit systems are destroyed, and I'm guessing it far trumps the amount of revenue NYCM is bringing in. Every day that we go without transportation is an astounding amount of money lost, and I really don't think anyone should be focusing on transporting runners around.
I wrote a blog post myself yesterday with a few more points, but they've been largely covered by other commenters here.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write out a long comment explaining why you disagree. Hopefully the transportation situation continues to improve.
DeleteRe: "it's ok to care" -- I'm not running NYC, but if I had been registered, and if I trained for it and planned my travel and bought tickets, I *would* care. And I would feel like a petty, guilty, selfish little asshole for caring, but I would still care. I would like to think I'm a generous enough person to think that a marathon doesn't matter in the face of all that's happened, and that instead of running I'd go out and rebuild houses, but ... realistically, I'd still be a little sad. I'm glad you acknowledged that.
ReplyDeleteI hope those affected by Sandy are getting what they need asap. That being said, I think there are many positives to having the marathon go on, as you mentioned, if it is safe and not taking away from any needs of others. Even if all businesses cannot handle tourists at this time, if there are enough to, this spirit of "it's ok to visit NY, let's have something positive here" would be good. Often a natural disaster like this can cause ppl to stray away from a place for a very long time and it can be devastating for small businesses who rely on tourists. Having lived through several hurricanes, they are devastating, but they have a certain spirit of community about the aftermath that you can find nowhere else. Something has happened to everyone, we are all equals, and we will all together rally and rebuild. Also, be careful if you choose to volunteer in any such situation. Esp if you are a female volunteer, always have a partner with you. No joke.
ReplyDeleteHave you read this article?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/11/seven-reasons-why-new-yorkers-think-holding-new-york-marathon-terrible-idea/58585/#.UJL_PgwY2ok.facebook
I have now. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteI have two friends here who have trained their ASSES off for NYCM. One cancelled her trip and was able to defer her entry to 2013. I'm sure she'll have no problem returning next year. The other person is heading out anyway, hoping he can actually get there & have a place to stay. For his sake, I hope it goes. He's worked so hard and at his age it may not be as easy to train for a marathon successfully. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI agree that runners have made a lot of personal sacrifices in training for the marathon -- time, money, energy, etc. I don't fault them for deciding to run as planned OR for feeling disappointed at the prospect of the race's postponement.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I do not think that the marathon should be held on Sunday. I *do* think that the personnel concern is a valid one. There are some areas of the city that most definitely will not be back on their feet by Sunday, or any time soon, for that matter. These areas WILL need any additional personnel they can get, even if it's not for acute rescue situations. That's not, in general, a reflection of the disaster relief program -- it's a reflection of the seemingly unprecedented level of damage to certain parts of the city.
I do like your point about "The Triumph" (I mean, who doesn't like a comeback?), but I don't think that it would be lessened by having the marathon at a later date. Moreover, there will be no sense of "triumph" for a lot of New Yorkers on Sunday, and holding a race to showcase that notion would be a disservice to them, in my opinion.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling response -- This post just got me thinking, which is always appreciated. And I do want to reiterate that I don't take issue with people that choose to run on Sunday. People have worked hard for this, and if they get the chance to race on Sunday, who can blame them for taking it? It's more just things I wish the folks in charge would have weighed more heavily in their decision.
Thanks for a great and thought-provoking post! :-)
-KJ (Sorry for being 'Anonymous'...I don't have a blogger account.)
now that its cancelled, im a little late, but i had already deffered before that, but i just want to say i so appreciate you margot being able to join/start a discussion with mature, rational thoughts, and not getting all angry and accusatory like so many facebook posts on the race's facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI still kind of think it should have gone on, and I wasn't running it, people get so worked up! I do see cancellation reasons too. I would not have been the one to make that decision.
ReplyDelete