As we posted minutes ago, Mayor Bloomberg and NYRR president Mary Wittenberg have canceled the 2012 ING New York City Marathon just hours before the race was to take place on Sunday, November 4, 2012.
Many believe it would have been the right call 60 hours ago, but Bloomberg reassured everyone the race would go on and runners from all over the world hopped on planes to travel to NYC to run the historic race.
Now many angered runners are lashing out at the decision by Bloomberg to cancel the race after so many traveled to the city upon his word that the race would go on. Runners have lost thousands of dollars in airline tickets and hotel rooms.
Here is what some runners are saying on our Twitter feed (pro and con) when we asked them for their thoughts:
New York City Marathon Canceled – 2012
Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Nov 02 2012 16:05:11
Feel Bad for #Sandy Victims and also for these #NYCM runners that have been jerked around by Bloomberg and @INGNYCMarathon – BAD!!Joshua Holmes
@runitfast sitting in New York now with friends and family with bibs and all. Not a bad call but a horrible one 36 hours out.Jared Friesen
@runitfast we left so much to come here. No way to cancel as race was on.here now from across Atlantic, money gone, no raceHedzer
@bayou Checked into the hotel, heard the news 10 minutes later. Understand the decision….but not this late in the game #RIF129Rob Bedini
Feel sad for everyone already there/in route. RT @runitfast: ING NYC Marathon Cancelled Less Than 48 Hrs Before Start http://po.st/GoSiDhLisa Gonzales
@runitfast it’s never to late to do the right thing.jayne cunningham
Everyone who showed up for @ingnycmarathon should volunteer to help with relief efforts… and get their registration refunded. @runitfastFrancis L.
@runitfast Absolutely the right call. Should have been done on Tuesday or Wednesday. Everybody loses now.Mark Shipley
@runitfast cancellation should have been made much earlier in the weel!Tom Rossi
@runitfast they had all the information needed to cancel it 3 days ago, they should have made the decision then, now is a shaft.Fred McElwaine
@runitfast It’s sad that it was cancelled but for the best. Caused so much controversy & im sure the locals weren’t pleased.Mel Ward
@lttlegrlbigwrld @runitfast exactly. They should have cancelled it on Monday. I’d be pissed if i went all that way for it to be cancelled.Mel Ward
@runitfast i feel bad for the runners that made the trip. that is expensive and all their training completed for no race? volunteeri guesselizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast Would you run an event where a mile from the start line lies the bodies of victims? #NYCMJorge
@runitfast #shocked ! That they didn’t canx on mon/tues & that they left it so late! Right decision tho.I’ve deferred to 2013 #injury #luckyRuggedRadnage
@runitfast other marathons should let nyc bibs run free.Earache
@runitfast I sure hope that’s wrong. Just checked into hotel!Rob Bedini
@runitfast Absolutely the right call. Should have been done on Tuesday or Wednesday. Everybody loses now.Mark Shipley
@runitfast They waited too long. Most people are already there and have lost lots of $$ in plane tickets.meghan
@runitfast @ingnycmarathon agreed. On a train to get my packet, thanks guys.Matthew Fantazier
@runitfast feel terrible for people who actually traveled there for the race. Should have cancelled earlier.Christin
@runitfast @ingnycmarathon Agree! plain stupid to first confirm and then cancelAndrea Maramotti
@runitfast @nyrr Thank you for cancelling the @INGNYCMarathon. How about we organize a 40,000+ person clean-up effort in Staten Island?Jordan Kurzweil
@runitfast hope ING and NYRR donate all the clean water to people that need it.Lee Anne Hooley
@runitfast The human race is more important then any 26.2 Those there or on their way should lend a hand. #volunteernycLee Beebe
@runitfast I really feel for the organizers, too…what a roller coaster.James Meredith
@runitfast cancellation should have been made much earlier in the weel!Tom Rossi
Quel nightmare. RT @runitfast ING NYC Marathon Cancelled Less Than 48 Hours Before Start http://dlvr.it/2QX1tPJennifer Yun
@runitfast I love all you runners but I don’t think you understand how bad us New Yorkers are affected.Joshua Hull
@runitfast I would be livid if I was just now arriving in NYC.Sam Ganow
Unless you live in NYC…you don’t get an opinion. Have to believe its the right call. RT @ShareFitness: @runitfast your kidding right???Tom Loftus
@runitfast They should have cancelled it sooner. A lot sooner.Francis L.
@runitfast this is a freaking joke! Bloomberg got bullied by media. Terribly unfortunate!E.B.
@runitfast Mixed feelings, but waiting til last minute to decide was so, SO wrong.Christy Bowers
@runitfast I think they are right to cancel this year. There just hasn’t been enough time to help the people of NYC yetLAURABONNETT
@runitfast are people seriously that selfish?Sarah Beth Houser
@runitfast I love all you runners but I don’t think you understand how bad us New Yorkers are affected.Joshua Hull
@QwietSt0rm What about the people that paid to fly out there and had hotel rooms? @INGNYCMarathon @runitfastDapper Diner
@runitfast I’m sympathetic to all those affected. Bummed that I put in the time. Disappointed in the timing of the decision. We march on.Brian Harrington
@QwietSt0rm What about the people that paid to fly out there and had hotel rooms? @INGNYCMarathon @runitfastDapper Diner
@runitfast @ingnycmarathon Looks like there will be loads of volunteers in NYC with too much energy and nothing to do.ashley hook
@runitfast sad shame for all those missing out on the NYC marathon. But they should keep in mind some people are missing out on their homes!Keletso Nyathi
@runitfast the giants steelers game better be cancelled too thenHoles & Poles Runner
@TheSouthernWife @runitfast If runners stay and help, it would make their trip more than worth it.ashley hook
I agree @runitfast ! It was a better call 2 days ago to cancel #NYCM. Speshly if you bought travel insurance.Andrew Nelson
@runitfast not a bad call, terribly late thoughRomaRoadRunnersClub
@runitfast: no hate here: but Bloomberg has not had a good week…go ahead and run NYC as a flash marathon!Tim Crow
@runitfast YES!!!! Bloomberg manipulated & got manipulated – nothing but a politicianE.B.
@runitfast should have been cancelled days agoSearch4SolidFooting
@runitfast This was a no- brainer; I’m sure that corporate sponsors applied a lot of pressure to run it. Poor leadership from Bloomberg…Larry Gill
@runitfast re #NYCMarathon #runitsafe #rebuild the #rerun will be an awesome & emotional event! Good call guys…Kinetic
@runitfast I know several Brits who flew out today before the announcement, in fact, they are still in the air – so probs don’t know yet!Rebecca Saunders
@runitfast This was the right call. However deferrals should be fully paid for nect year. This came late, those there already need refunds.Mark Superman Cato
@runitfast right call. Poorly planned. I feel bad for Sandy victims and runners. Hope runners can find alternate marathon.Travis Forbes
