Run It Fast®

Runners, already in New York, pack your backs…you are going back home without running the 2012 ING New York City Marathon according to the NYRR and Mayor Bloomberg’s office.

The race has been canceled after Bloomberg said two days ago that the race would go on as scheduled on November 4, 2012.

RUNNERS RESPOND TO CANCELATION ON TWITTER (READ)

Here is the Tweet from Bloomberg:

Marathon cancellation statement from NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg & NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg: “The Marathon has been an integral part of New York City’s life for 40 years and is an event tens of thousands of New Yorkers participate in and millions more watch. While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division. The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it. We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track. The New York Road Runners will have additional information in the days ahead for participants.”

The decision has been confirmed by NBC, ABC News, and ESPN.

The decision is a horrible one coming today. Two days ago it would have been the right decision. Instead runners from all over the world have been traveling to the city this weekend to run in the famed #NYCM.

Bad decision followed by another bad decision after preparations to hold the event and runners were already at the Expo checking in for the event.

The NYRR have a cancelation insurance policy and should be able to collect up to $427,000 according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

Bloomberg is no Mayor Giuliani when it comes to making the right calls during disasters.

Agree? Disagree? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Here is a look at all of the elite women that will be taking part at the ING New York City Marathon on November 4, 2012.

The favorites will be Tiki Gelana from Ethiopia (2:18:58) and Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat (2:19:50).

Be sure to keep an eye on former Boston Marathon champ Sharon Cherop (2:22:39) and Ethiopia’s Bizunesh Deba as well.

We will be pulling for all of these elite women on Sunday, especially Run It Fast’s Leah Thorvilson from Arkansas.

ELITE 2012 NYC MARATHON WOMEN

Best of luck to these elite women and all of the women taking part in this year’s ING NYC Marathon!

[source: Let’s Run]

This is the medal for the Columbia Gorge Marathon that was held on October 28, 2012 in Hood River, Oregon.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal photo submitted by RIF #147 Josh Liggett.  Follow him on Twitter @waves_of_light]

Hurricane Sandy came close to making the 2012 ING New York City Marathon not take place, but Mayor Bloomberg has spoken and it will go on as planned.

This will also be the first year since 1993 that the marathon will be aired nationally on television.

The NYC Marathon will air on ESPN 2 on Sunday, November 4, 2012 from 9am – 12:30pm ET.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell also got this interesting tidbit out of NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg:

We’ve had names on bibs for five or six years. What we’ve done this year is tell the uniform and shoe companies not to give athletes who are similar in height the same outfits or shoe colors. We also know the picture will be clearer than ever before because it will be in HD for the first time. It will pop like a painting with the runners and all the fall colors.

Tune in on Sunday to watch one of the most popular marathons in the world take place live.

This is the medal for the Marine Corps Marathon that was held on October 28, 2012 in Washington, DC.

This is one of the most beautiful medals you can earn! Here are more views of this fabulous medal:

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photos submitted by Brian Lueb – follow him on Twitter @bmlueb and by Les Kinman – follow him on Twitter @LesKinman and by Mike Johnson]

This is the medal for the Auckland Marathon that was held on October 28, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Very cool medal. Love the cut-out.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal photo submitted by Thor R. Follow him on Twitter @thor_nz]

This is the medal for the Dublin Marathon that was held on October 29, 2012 in Dublin, Ireland.

It’s a beautiful medal. Sadly, some runners did not get a medal because they ran out. The race organizers will be sending them out to those that didn’t get it though. In the meantime, check out these other photos submitted by RIF readers:

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[medal photos submitted by Mark Ramsey – follow him on Twitter @AMarkRamsey and by Little_Quootie – follow her on Twitter @Little_Quootie and by Runners Knees.  Follow on Twitter @RunnersKnees]

This is the medal for the Venice Marathon that was held on October 28, 2012 in Venice Italy.

Great medal and definitely earned with the high winds and rain that occured during the Venice Marathon! Here is another view of it:

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal submitted by Nicolo Centemero. Follow on on Twitter @docNSC]

This is the medal for the Snowdonia Marathon that was held on October 27, 2012 in Llanberis in Snowdonia National Park in Wales.

The Snowdonia Marathon was voted the best marathon in the UK last year. I may have to look into it!

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal photo submitted by Gavin Reeves – follow him on Twitter @GavinJReeves]

This is the medal for the Grand Marathon International de Casablanca that was held on October 21, 2012 in Casablanca, Morocco.

MORE PHOTOS OF MARATHON/ULTRA MEDALS AND BUCKLES

[Medal photo submitted by RIF #79 Dallas Smith. Follow Dallas on Twitter @smithbend]