The Marathon That Wasn't

By Timothy Higgins

The Marathon That Wasn't

The New York City Marathon is one of the largest and best-known annual marathon races in the world. From humble beginnings, the race has grown into an event whose participants number in the tens of thousands. The competition now attracts runners from across the globe every year, and countless New Yorkers turn out to follow the excitement as the race spans across all five boroughs to the finish line. The course has been run nearly every year since 1970. However, in 2012, the New York City Marathon was canceled.

The Marathon That Wasn't

The reason behind this cancellation was simple: the great “super storm” Sandy had devastated New York, along with much of the surrounding region, just days before. Initially, Mayor Michael Bloomberg intended to go ahead with the marathon, but as controversy grew, he changed his decision and called it off just a few days before it was set to commence. The initial hope had been that the marathon would be inspiring to citizens, but it was later decided that the resources required to successfully run the marathon would be better used elsewhere.

The Marathon That Wasn't

Upon hearing this news, some of the contestants who had already arrived in the city decided to get together and run an unofficial marathon anyway. Others, however, took a cue from the city itself. In a remarkable display of generosity and the marathon spirit of perseverance, many who had planned to run in the race began volunteering their time instead, helping New Yorkers to recover items from their damaged or destroyed homes and doing anything they could to help get the city back on its feet. Although there was no New York City Marathon in 2012, those who were set to run in it left a different kind of mark on the city, one that will never be erased by a better time or a closer race.

The Marathon That Wasn't

About the Author: Timothy P. Higgins is a successful businessman and an avid marathon runner. He lives in New York.