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.
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.
Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Nov 3-4, 2012)
Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Nov 02 2012 10:53:21
@runitfast Hope to get in a couple of training runs as I’m finally starting to feel a bit better. Good luck to all racing! #runitfastJoshua Holmes
@runitfast Still recovering from JJ and have a cold but hope to hit the trails this weekend. Gotta get ready for the Monkey in 2 weeks! #5Lisa Gonzales
@runitfast San Luis Valley,CO. If I break out if this airport.Dallas Smith
@runitfast IronMan Florida #runitfastgene pierce
@runitfast Running the Midsouth Marathon in Wynne, Arkansas Saturday. One of my favoritesDanny Staggs
@runitfast I will be running in the Hot Chocolate 15K in Chicago on Sunday!! #RIF10Dianna Seda
@runitfast Winding down training runs before a half marathon next weekend in AL.CharmedTortoise
@runitfast No races. 5 miles saturday, taper away!Christy Bowers
@runitfast Nashville Ultra Marathon.David W
5k and 13.1, to @runitfast in my flows @KarhuRunning, wkend 4 #RichmondMarathon , 10th http://pic.twitter.com/3hg5gHVlAlicia Eno
@runitfast Texas 10 Series – Conroe, TXStephen G
@runitfast just got back to Moscow…if I don’t oversleep will do the opener in the winter xc series in the AM.Michelle Mitchell
@runitfast silver falls trail half marathon. First trail race!Josh Liggett
@runitfast I’m running the Temecula, CA, Half Marathon. 13.1 miles through Temecula Valley vineyards!Kathy Shirley
@runitfast New York City Marathon!Rob Bedini
@runitfast Livingston — #TwitterRoadRace 10kelizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast 14 miles for me on Sunday around my neck of the woods 🙂 #runitfastKristy
@runitfast In the Inaugural BG26.2 & Half Marathon in Bowling Green, Ky – – our city’s historic FIRST marathon! @TRAXrunningRyan C. Reed
@runitfast Lordshill 10 Mile, Southampton, UK. one of my favourites #runEthical Athlete
@runitfast at tatton half marathon my first ever half scared and exitedkaren
@runitfast HotChocolate15K in Chicago!!! #willrunforchocolate #teamintraining #runningforcarie #nomorecancer #GOTEAM http://pages.teamintraining.org/il/hotchoc12/constancegailconstancegail
@runitfast I’m running Indianapolis Monumental Half.Whitty
@runitfast Running in my neighborhood – 8 milesBethany Burroughs
Just registered for the 2012 Rock n’ Roll USA marathon! Going to wear my @Run4TAPS singlet this time! 3:45 or die trying! 🙂 cc @runitfastTim Savoy
@runitfast I will mostly be running in #everdecreasingcircles #surreymartin kent
@runitfast No racing for me this weekend, but plenty of trail running in preparation for the @LCUltras Delirium Ultra 24 Hour Endurance RaceKeith Flint
@runitfast NYC MarathonRun Dem Crew
@runitfast The Santa Clarita Marathon #santaclaritamarathonTony Cota
@runitfast New York City marathon!Jared Friesen
@runitfast @DallasRunClub #drchalfHealthWagers
@runitfast Soweto Marathon in SADanielle Mascher
@runitfast. I might.. Possibly.. I’m not saying that I will but perhaps may run #Road2Hope #marathon in #Hamilton #OntarioAzifikare
@runitfast Bass Pro Marathon, Springfield, MissouriJames Meredith
The @INGNYCMarathon!!! "@runitfast: LAST CALL: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses posted to RIF within the hour!"Mike Kedzie
@runitfast I’m running to commute to a Sandy relief center to volunteer. http://bit.ly/PHboip to find out how you can help too.Kyle Gorjanc
@runitfast Got Manchester (NH) City Marathon this weekend. I think I’ll be ready….Brian Eastwood
Hot Chocolate 5K in Chicago! RT @runitfast: LAST CALL: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses posted to RIF within the hour!Dana Peters
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.
@runitfast I’ll be running/training in Torquay! Any nice training run suggestions appreciated #runiitfastKinetic
@runitfast #southampton #parkrun 5k on Sat, first 15miler in aaaaages on Sun. Spring marathon training starts now!Ethical Athlete
@runitfast great south run with @DaveJ17 my first, his second. Very excited.ali c
@runitfast #dublincitymarathon on Monday!! #myfirst #nervous #excitedAine Kennedy
@runitfast Kings Park athletics stadium!Paul Smuts
@runitfast Worksop half marathon Jacket Inn (Worksop)
@runitfast I doubt it’s going to get posted but the the Great pumpkin fun run. It benefits St Luke’s Episcopal hospital.Carlos Saldana III
@runitfast Morgan Hill Half Marathon. @MHMarathonFrancis L.
@runitfast home turf….rockport park. My training ground!! I cannot wait!Jessica
@runitfast marine corps marathon this sunday in washington dc! :)Andrea Burkhart
@runitfast 23 mile training run around fairmount park in phillyamy dedic
@runitfast beachy head marathon. Sussex. UK. Hilly and chilly…Dan Wittenberg
@runitfast Hey guys, I personally will be taking it easy this weekend. Next week I am participating in a 5k run for lung cancer research!ItsAboutTreadmills
@runitfast River City Rat Race 10k in Fort Wayne, IN on Sunday.Kristal Gutmann
@runitfast halloween hustle 5k in san antoniobrandon harrist
@runitfast spinx half in greenville, scAndrew Padgett
@runitfast #10knikeColombia, on sunday 28thmoshe perez
Elite road-runner Christian Heschhas admitted to EPO blood doping after being confronted by several of his Nike Team Run L.A. teammates who found an empty vial in his stuff.
Hesch, a self-described “profligate road racer,” said that over two years, beginning in August 2010, he injected himself with EPO 54 times before an empty EPO vial was found in his bag and he was reported to antidoping officials. In that time, he won nearly $40,000 in prize money in more than 75 races, including international competitions, United States championships and local road races.
Hesch, 33, gained national fame earlier this year when he out ran Ethiopia’s Fikadu Lemma and Demesse Tefera at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence Half Marathon to win with a time of 1:07:05.
Two days prior Hesch had run a 4:00.01 mile at the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The USADA has a case pending against Hesch and has ordered that he not race until they decide how to punish him. (USADA has been a bit busy with it’s loaded case against cyclist Lance Armstrong over the past few weeks).
“It would be fairly expensive if I wanted to fight it,” Hesch said. “Usada only brings cases when they’re pretty sure, and this is coming from a guy with a pending case.”
Hesch could face a 2-year ban from the USADA.
Competitor’s Mario Fraioli felt miffed and misled by Hesch giving his story to the New York Times when he had been working with Hesch for days about an exclusive for Competitor Magazine (full story).
Fraioli ran the piece (see below) last night after getting word that the NYT was about to publish it’s exclusive piece on Hesch.
“I will promise you that when I return to racing if you yell “doper” or “you suck” at me as I pass by, I will not flip you the bird, nor will I throw a sarcastic thumbs-up. I might wave though, and I’ll be happy to hear you out after the race, no matter how rough the content. As Tyler Hamilton said so well, “I’m an ex-doper, and I don’t suck.” I hope you’ll feel the same way about me after sharing a word, a race, or a beer with me. I look forward to seeing you all on the roads, next year.”
What are your thoughts on Hesch’s confession? Do you really think he’s sincere in his apology or just sorry he got caught? Have you ever suspected one of your racing peers was doping?
@runitfast Doing my training run Saturday.April Werling
@runitfast Louisville Marathon – Louisville, KY. Looking for a sub-4, maybe a sub-3: 56 PR.Houston Wolf
@runitfast off to Munich for a marathon with @greatgardarun all in aid of sick kids in Crumlin Hospital #greatcause http://pic.twitter.com/pRxqYE9KBrian Cosgrove
Tomorrow @RunRocknRoll and NYC will host their annual 10K event in Prospect Park. My 1st 10K. Can’t wait. CC: @runitfastJorge
@runitfast it sounds amazing also with beautiful landscape isn’t?Pedro Duque
@runitfast the gunstock trails half marathon, oahu, hawaii…!michael c. miller
@runitfast canyon Texas 5k homecoming at WTAMUSusan Jones
Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (Oct 6-7, 2012)
Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Oct 05 2012 10:34:44
@runitfast Yellowstone-Teton 100 Miler – gonna be a cold one. Low of 24 deg Sat night. #runitfastJoshua Holmes
@runitfast Crewing @bayou at Yellowstone-Teton 100 and going to get a couple of runs in for fun! So far it’s beautiful! #IdahoFallsLisa Gonzales
@runitfast STP Marathon in Winchester, TN this Saturday. Weather looks great!Danny Staggs
Off to @ChiMarathon #ChicagoMarathon for @BoMFnyc @backonmyfeet http://tinyurl.com/runkinobomfnyc ! Looking to @RunItFast er than my 4:52:16 time in 2008Hideki Kino 木下秀樹
@absolut_zer0 @runitfast @c2crelay have a great run #GoGetItLeigh Marsh
@runitfast Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon http://j.mp/p54C1T. #runitfastDennis Arriaga
@runitfast Chicago Marargon baby!!!!!elizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast STP 1/2 marathon in Winchester, TNRobin Robbins
@runitfast Saturday- summer 2 mi xc series final(Moscow) Sunday-Serpukhov Half @50k race pace (unless I sleep in ) 2+hrs south of MoscowMichelle Mitchell
@runitfast Running @steamtown26. Hoping for no rain!Robin
@runitfast Portland Marathon!Josh Liggett
Let’s #runitfast! RT @JohnHulsey: Texas Toast Team, Van 1. We’re ready to run! #c2c3 #c2ctxtoast http://pic.twitter.com/u9SgIDi1 cc: @runitfastNicholas L. Norfolk
@runitfast @beukdeup and I will be running the StumpJump 50k on Signal Mtn in Chattanooga TN. #runitfastDavid J. Pharr
@runitfast Stump Jump 50k in Chattanooga.Nathan Judd
@runitfast st George marathon.Jason Howard
@runitfast – I’m going to run the Chapel of the Cross 5k Saturday morning. It’s just down the road from my house in Madison, MS. #runitfastNathan Bass
@runitfast Tyler Rose Half MarathonChristy Bowers
@runitfast I hate to admit it, but I worked in a 1 mile run today. My life has gotten in the way of training & I have 15k next wkend. Yikes!CharmedTortoise
@runitfast Running a half in Evansville, IN this Sunday.Barbara Mitchell
@runitfast Saturday, Marine Corp Half Marathon – Jacksonville, FL.E. Smith
@runitfast Cape Gate 5k, Cape Town ZA.Daniel Malan
@runitfast the Ormskirk 10k, England Lyns Rimmer
@runitfast st. George yeah!lisa trevino
@runitfast Chapman 5K in Orange CA with 115 kids and parents from St. John’s Lutheran Church and School! http://pic.twitter.com/oR9gUre4Jeff Courvoisier
@runitfast Rock ‘N’ Roll San Jose Half. #RnRSJFrancis L.
@runitfast The Hogweed Muggles in Gloucestershire tomorrow morning. 15 miles of muddy fun :)RunningAddictAndrew!
@runitfast 12-miler, likely in Kensington Park west of Detroit.don morris
@runitfast wooot! Doin my 10th halfmara in Kelowna at the @okanaganmara Awesome #roadtrip tomoz!TinaFab
@runitfast Portland Marathon !!!Trish Spinar
@runitfast chicago marathon! my first one ever and i am psyched!victoria grabner
“@runitfast: 55 Responses So Far: Where Are you running/racing this weekend? http://runitfast.com/2012/10/05/where-run-it-fast-runners-are-running-this-weekend-oct-6-7-2012/” @LWFallClassic Race in #Winnipeg!Drew Gourdie
@runitfast @chestermarathonIan Richards
@runitfast 20 miles on the Delaware toepathamy dedic
@runitfast back home in the Netherlands after doing four runs on this four day trip to ArgentinaHedzer
Marathoner/ultramarathoner Hideki ‘Kino’ Kinoshita has completed 112 marathons and ultramarathons to date. He has completed them in 47 states and 4 continents. 23 of his 112 have been ultramarathons.
So Kino is well accomplished in having run races all over the globe. He has done all of his marathons since September 21, 2008. An amazing feat in such a short time.
His times for these races all show that he has an inner drive to not just finish them but to perform at a very high level, no matter the race or distance.
There are still races that Kino hasn’t run yet that he hopes to one day.
Here is a look at his ultramarathon wish list:
Kino’s Top 5 Wish List for Ultramarathons
1. Badwater 135 (Death Valley, CA to Mount Whitney, CA)
This is undoubtedly the top goal race for most 100-miler ultramarathoners in the Western Hemisphere. Not only is running 135 miles a challenge, but try doing it by “running on the sun” (title of a 1993 documentary on Badwater 135) in the hottest place on the planet (according to Wikipedia, Death Valley’s Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest recorded temperature ever, at 134 °F (56.7 °C) at the hottest time of year in July, and climbing 3 massive hills along the way, including the final 13 mile death march up to Mount Whitney Portal, the tallest mountain in the Lower 48 States. All this adds to the mystique and challenge of attempting this grueling ultra. Firstly, it is an unwritten highly suggested rule that you crew for a runner before attempting this race yourself, so that you can emerse yourself into hell before sanely determining if this race is right for you. I have yet to crew, but if I had only one last race in me that I could complete, Badwater would be it. Thank goodness it is no longer Badwater 146, with the final 11 miles up Mount Whitney eliminated as part of the course! Anyone who has completed this race is a running legend in my eyes. Such legends include friends like Ryoichi Sekiya, Brittany Klimowicz, Tony Portera, Phil McCarthy, Iris Cooper, Michael Wardian, Dave Ploskonka, Dave Carver, Ed Ettinghausen, & Mike Miller. Hearing each of their adventures, along with those who have has captivated my imagination.
2. Western States Endurance Run (Squaw Valley, CA to Auburn, CA)
Western States Endurance Run (aka “Western States 100” or “WS100”) is a point to point 100-mile ultra from Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA that runs downhill through the Sierra Nevadas. It is a race that captured my imagination while reading Dean Karnazes’ “Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner” book. This is a course that legends like Gordy Ainsleigh, Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka, Glen Redpath, & Kilian Jornet have traversed. WS100 is the 100 that started it all when Gordy Ainsleigh’s horse came up lame in what was then a horse race (belt buckles were awarded for completing the race, and that tradition has carried over into the running version of the race with runners who finish within the 30 hour time limit receiving a bronze buckle and those who finish within 24 hours, a “sub 24”, receiving a silver buckle), and then decided to return the year after in 1974 to traverse the distance on foot. He proved that it was possible to cover 100 miles within 24 hours when Ainsleigh finished in 23:42. To learn more about the history of this race, read up on it on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_States_Endurance_Run . Here’s a list of WS100 course records: http://www.ws100.com/recordholders.htm.
Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, also known as UTMB, is Europe’s premier trail ultramarathon that stats in the famous ski village of Chamonix, France and runs around Mont Blanc in the French, Italian, & Swiss Alps, along a hiking trail that normally takes 7 to 9 days to traverse. The distance is roughly 166 km (~103 mi), and varies yearly due to safety reasons. It also features significant elevation changes (+/- 9,400m to +/- 9,500m, ~ +/- 30,000 feet) and nasty weather. The event began in 2003, with only 67 finishers out of 722 runners. It has since grown to feature ~2,500 runners. Spanish mountain goat, Kilian Jornet, who was raised in the Pyrenees Mountains is a 3-time champion (all by the age of 23) of this race (along with being a WS100 & Pikes Peak Marathon championship) that features the world’s best trail ultra runners. Inclement weather forced race organizers to host abbreviated versions of the race in 2010 & 2012. What made me realize the difficulty of this race was when American legends Geoff Roes and Scott Jurek both DNF’ed with Roes admitting that he felt “destroyed” by the race.
H.U.R.T. stands for Hawaiian Ultra Running Team, and the name is as valid as advertised. HURT 100 is notorious for a high DNF rate, even with a 36 hour time cutoff, due to its crazy elevation change and wet & humid conditions. Those who log 62mi are credited with a 100K finish and earn a 100K buckle. How’s this for a description? “There is over 24,935 feet of elevation gain and loss over the course of 100 miles. The gain comes in short sections no more than 2.1 miles at a time. There are very few sections where you can run with consistent stridefor more than a few hundred yards at a time. This course requires that you pay close attention to your footing at all times! The down hills are much worse! There are a total of 20 stream crossings, two per lap, prior to the Paradise Park aid station and prior to the Nuuanuaid station. If the river is high due to rain, we may forego the stream crossing. Expect wet feet every time you enter and leave the Jackass Ginger (Nuuanu) aid station. The trail is composed of a moderately packed dirt surface with lots of roots and rocks, which are very slippery when wet. At night there will be dew, which makes this trail extremely slippery. If it rains (which it will), there will be plenty of mud.” Hawaii holds a special place for me, so what could be more special than running 1.5 days in the forests of Oahu? It sure beats running on roads, or does it?
Leadville 100, also known as LT100 or The “Race Across The Sky”, was made famous thanks to Christopher McDougall’s 2009 best selling book, “Born To Run”, in which he chronicles the American debut of the mysterious Tarahumara Indian ultra runners of Mexico. Leadville 100 was conceived by avid marathoner Kenneth Chlouber to bring back life to and revitalize Leadville, Colorado, an old mining town already steeped in economic decline. LT100 first took place in 1983, with the Tarahumara first competing in the race in 1993 and 1994, winning both years. In 1994, the Tarahumara took on famed American runner Ann Transon and defeated her, although she set a female course record of 18:06:24, which still stands. The book also introduced to the world, the now deceased Micah True, better known as Caballo Blanco. Legends such as Matt Carpenter (12-time Pikes Peak Marathon winner and LT100 course record holder, 15:42:59 in 2005) and Marshall Ulrich, who completed a Leadville 100 + Pikes Peak Marathon (PPM) “double” over the same weekend in 1992 & 1993, including a 120 mile drive from the LT100 finish to the PPM start in Manitou Springs, CO. Although there are other high altitude 100’s in the Continental U.S. that many consider to be harder than Leadville, such as Hardrock 100 and Wasatch 100, this Race Across The Sky is more well-known and is still an extremely challenging race, featuring +/- 15,600 feet (+/- 4,800 m) in elevation change, with altitude ranging from 9,200 feet to 12,620 feet (~2.5 miles above sea level). If that’s not enough, runners have to pass through the infamous Hope Pass, along the way, which is known to attract lightning strikes during the race.
Disclaimer: I don’t claim that I am capable of finishing any of these races, but if I were able to pick which 5 races I would love to finish, these would be it. Thanks for reading!(WHATEVER, Kino! We know better!)
Did Kino leave one off his list that you would include? If so tell us!
