Argh - Entitled runners!
I can’t help it, I need to post my disgust at the runners upset about the NYC Marathon cancellation.
The folks complaining about the decision to cancel the marathon need to remember IT'S JUST A RACE. And chances are you will not win the Honda, so that means the marathon is a hobby you enjoy and it's not part of your paycheck. Please keep this in mind as you complain about the thousands of dollars you lost traveling to NY for the race… while nearly 100 are dead from the terrible disaster, thousands are without electricity and housing, and many are in need of food, gasoline and clean water.
You whine because you can’t run 26.2 miles…. In New York. Let me remind you, there are hundreds of marathons. In fact, if you researched, you could probably find one within 100 miles from your town this coming weekend or the next when you get back from (what you deem) a wasteful trip to New York City.
Let me break it to you: NO RACE IS EVER A GUARANTEE. If you think you are entitled to run that race because you paid $250 and trained 6 months… then I welcome you to have that discussion with the person whose entire livelihood was washed away with this past Monday’s natural disaster.
And, I have another hard life lesson for you: when a race is canceled due to weather, know you will NOT get your money back and move on. We all gamble when we sign on for these races, but the cold hard reality is we cannot control what Mother Nature throws at us and it’s ridiculous if you think a race organization can simply “refund” you or “change locations” based on something outside of their control. There is SO much going on behind the scenes that do not allow for such simplicity. I’m so annoyed by everyone who feels entitled!
NO, they do not have to refund you… they have to pay their staff that worked all year to put this race on (that until a week ago, you fully supported), fund the medals that were expected to be handed out, pay for the logistics that come with orchestrating a race that supports 47k runners. Check your registration. Did it say anything about being refunded if weather conditions (unforeseen by race organizers) were disastrous??
I get it. Yes, the race cancellation was handled poorly. The decision to have the race was revoked after it was confirmed. But this was not to the fault of the race organizers. This was at the fault of the Mayor who wanted to get the city up and running when it could not yet crawl. He made a poor decision. He gave the green light. He wanted to push forward. Give the race organizers a break! Some of them, I’m sure are dealing with personal loss at this time. And on top of it they are doing their job just like the rest of us, and hoped to bring this race to life. The reality is the city was not ready to host a marathon. And what's wrong with admitting that?? It was crippled by a super storm.
As a marathon runner, I’m embarrassed by the runners who feel so entitled.
I'd suggest, you stop your whining and apply your frustration to three things:
1. Volunteer to help with the cleanup, if you are in New York
2. Find a new race within the next month if it upsets you so much to miss out on your fitness
3. Write the mayor a letter expressing your frustration at his poor decision making and the impact it had on you
Please stop acting like a bunch of self-center, bratty, Type-A Runners, who feel entitled to a marathon in a city that was devastated by a natural disaster only 5 days ago!
It is more than just a race for thousands of people that sign up for a marathon. The back stories for these individuals are just as tragic, ranging from fighting cancer, memorial for a loved one that was murdered, divorce, economic strife and yes loss from an event of nature. For some people entry fees and travel expenses may have been from a couple of years savings. The financial loss maybe as upsetting as the damage of a home on the eastern shore (homes are probably fully insured).
ReplyDeleteThere is a segment of the running population that participate in these events as a recreational luxury. I would guess a certain percentage of these recreational athletes devote most of their attention on personal needs or expectations. The human experience is complex Ms. Quinn, often the answers maybe equally as unreasonable as the question.