Rochester, N.Y. – Just days after Hurricane Sandy flooded parts of New York City, another surge posed a threat.
No sea water this time, though.
Runners and spectators were descending on Manhattan and outlying areas, readying themselves for Sunday’s New York City Marathon.
The blogosphere went ballistic.
By Friday afternoon, there was near universal outrage.
“I really got to question whether it’s appropriate to pull emergency personnel and generators away from people that clearly need it,” said Dan Kress, a local runner.
By Friday night, Mayor Bloomberg switched course and canceled the marathon.
Dave Rappleyea, an elite Rochester runner, agrees with the decision, but can’t hide his disappointment.
“I’ve been training for 4 months,” he said. “I was on my way to the airport when I found out it was canceled, I was pretty bummed when I found out.”
Rappleyea is now waiting to hear if his $245 fee will be refunded.
Several other members of Rappleyea’s runnining club, Genesee Valley Harriers, also had bib numbers.
Some of them, like Mike Reinhardt, had already made it to the city.
“I’m actually relieved,” Reinhardt said. “I had a bad feeling about running this race with everything that was going on.”
Reinhardt says he and other runners are now considering staying on to help with relief efforts.
