It’s About Getting New York Up and Running!

We believe that until New York has power, water and heat, we simply need to focus on getting New York up and running again. 

If you were among the lucky who didn’t suffer the effects of the storm, volunteer or donate for those who weren’t as fortunate.

You can help us raise funding for the American Red Cross. 

You can find lots of volunteer opportunities this weekend.

And if you were not so lucky, there are a couple of resources here, and here, and here.

And then go for a run this weekend, wherever you are. Regardless of whether you were planning on running the NY Marathon. Regardless of whether you can run 1 mile or 50. Run for New York and tell us about it!

City supposedly in ongoing debates regarding race cancellation… Marathon Cancelled? Fox News Thinks So - National - The Atlantic Wire
Pop-upView Separately

City supposedly in ongoing debates regarding race cancellation…

Marathon Cancelled? Fox News Thinks So - National - The Atlantic Wire

Source: theatlanticwire.com

Postpone the Marathon. And then go for a run…

You’ve been training for months. You’ve been looking forward to touring the city of New York through one of the most challenging events it has to offer. And now I’m asking you to scrap it all? 

Yes. But I’m not saying not to run. By all means, go for a run! But make it count. Make it help. Pledge $1 for every mile you run to a charity that can help rebuild New York and support New Yorkers. Ask friends to do the same. 

Make your opinion heard by the NYRR (the race organizers). Ask them to donate your entry fee — your ENTIRE ENTRY FEE — to charities helping New York City. 

Donate to help us make a difference.
Post on their Facebook pages. 
Tweet at them. 
Sign a petition.
Follow the conversation to stay well-informed.
Go for a run to support Prospect Park on Saturday.
Volunteer to clean up city parks. 
Volunteer to go help a friend clean their home.

Or do something that makes an even bigger statement…
Prompt Mary Wittenberg to put even more money where her mouth is.
Or ask the big athletic companies to help give back.  

Relevant Change.org Petitions for the NYC Marathon

Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Mary Wittenberg, CEO of NYRR: Postpone the NYC Marathon until Spring 2013

Pepsico: Match the Gatorage given at the NYC Marathon for victims of Sandy

ING: Stop their sponsorship of the NYC Marathon this Sunday

Petition | ING: Stop their sponorship of the NYC Marathon this Sunday | Change.org

That’s it. I’m out.

It’s with a heavy heart and after much deliberation that I’ve come to this decision. I’ve been training for months for Sunday’s NYC Marathon. I’ve waited for 5 years to put my toes on the starting line of the New York Marathon. And now I’ll wait yet another year. 

I’m one of the fortunate New Yorkers who lives in an area mostly untouched by Hurricane Sandy. Sure, we sat through the storm like everyone else. But we never even lost power. This week has left me feeling somewhere between being an audience member at a horror movie and being on vacation. But as I look at the devastation wrought by Sandy, as I see photos of the flooded homes of close friends — homes where I’ve enjoyed many a party and summer BBQ — I can’t in good conscience believe that the running of the 2012 Marathon less than a week after an event of this magnitude will do anything other than breed animosity and ill-will across an already crippled city. 

The Mayor has claimed, publicly and on multiple occasions, that the marathon will not divert resources away from recovery efforts. And yet, how can that be? How can anyone in their right mind claim that the water necessary to hydrate runners would not be better dedicated to those who have none? How can anyone claim that the fuel needed for the generators at the start and finish lines wouldn’t be better served going to those who have no heat or electricity? Sorry, Mr. Bloomberg, but I don’t believe you. I don’t see your decision as a triumphant declaration that NY will move forward.

And to you, Mary Wittenberg, I don’t believe you either. You’ve reiterated on multiple media outlets that the NYRR has deferred completely and entirely to the Mayor’s decision that the race should go on. I’m calling BS. Do you mean to tell me that you can command a $500,000 annual salary at a non-profit, but you can’t stomach standing up to the Mayor to tell him that this race is a mistake? That’s gutless. Take your cancellation insurance and your army of hard-working, run-loving commandos and mobilize them to pull this city back together by redistributing all of the resources previously set aside to relief efforts. 

Yes, I applaud your $1MM donation. But you can do more. Give away all of the water you have allocated to those in need. Give away all of the finish line food. Plug in your generators and set up your tents on Staten Island as you’ve planned — and then invite the ravished residents of that area to come and get warm. To plug in their phones and contact loved ones. Use the busses you’ve hired to truck volunteers to the island to assist in clean-up. 

I, for one, will gladly run a postponed race completely unsupported. You can keep your water and your gel packs, you can keep your timing equipment and your pasta dinner. I don’t need it. I have looked forward to running this race for years — and if that’s how I have to run it in order for New York City to become what we know and love once again, I will gladly do just that. If that’s what it takes to have the streets lined with cheering fans instead of an angry mob, by all means make it happen. But not this Sunday. 

See you next year NYC Marathon.