Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Update: NYC Marathon WILL GO ON This Sunday, Says Bloomberg
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 30, 2012
Modified Oct 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 30, 2012
Modified Oct 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This Sunday is supposed to be the annual ING NYC Marathon but with Hurricane Sandy ripping through the city most of us assumed it wasn't actually going to happen. And New York Road Runners, which organized it, certainly didn't seem optimistic this morning. Massive natural disaster and all. But that was then. According to the Daily News the race is actually still on. This is going to be interesting!
"The city of New York and the Road Runners are committed to making sure that the marathon will occur on Sunday," race medical director Dr. Stuart Weiss told the Daily News today. He went on to explain that organizers are still making decisions on race modifications in the wake of the storm but that "After 9/11 the marathon was part of the healing effort and we think this will be healing too. This will showcase that we as a city and a region can pull ourselves back up and help each other after a severe storm."
Which is all well and good—nothing like running so hard you poop yourself to distract from natural disasters—except we're a little confused about who they think will be running assuming Manhattan even has power. Many of the races participants come in from all over the world—and it isn't like our airports are in the best of shape right now! We've reached out to the NYRR but have yet to hear back.
Update: Well, now it looks like the New York Road Runners aren't so sure after all. According to Metropolis, "Thirteen minutes later the organization retracted the statement. Ninety minutes later, NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg issued a statement to media that did not guarantee the race would happen:"
"The City is rightfully focused on assessment, restoration and recovery,” she said. “At NYRR, we stand with our City agency partners and support their efforts.
“The Marathon has always been a special day for New Yorkers as a symbol of the vitality and resiliency of this City. NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation. We will keep all options open with regard to making any accommodations and adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events.
“We will provide an update and more detail as information becomes available.”
One reason why the NYRR wants the race to go on: Because many professional racers "derive a significant portion of their income from running this race."
Update 6:05 p.m.: Um, Mayor Bloomberg just said during a press conference that the marathon will go on. So GET ON IT, CON ED!
Tagged
frankenstorm
hurricane sandy
ing nyc marathon
marathon
nuts
nyc marathon
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plan to modernize NYC's diesel-spewing produce market falls apart under Mamdani
Bronx officials are scrambling to try to salvage a transformative project worth $650 million.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
News
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .