So most of NY is without power and underwater...let's have a race!

batgirl · 11-02-2012, 08:55 AM

NYC Marathon Still Goes On Despite Destruction

I don't normally start threads and I start threads with a rant even less, but this is something that I find just disgusting.

TL;DR is that pretty much Mayor Bloomberg has decided that, despite the hurricane hitting, despite millions of people not having power, heat, clean water or food, he's not cancelling the NY Marathon this Sunday.

I find this fucking ridiculous.

Every year that they have this marathon, streets, bridges and tunnels are closed so that people can run. Thousands of volunteers give up their time to man stations where they pass out shoes, clothing, food and Gatorade to the runners. Hundreds of ambulances and police stand by to help with medical needs and issues. Sorry guys, remember that little bit of rain we got? Don't you think those resources should be put to better use?

As someone who was on the front lines of the destruction and who saw it first hand as it was happening, I am disgusted. There are national guard units and police out in my friends' neighborhoods on the streets enforcing curfew because people are fucking LOOTING! Now Bloomberg wants to take those police away so people can run. There are people with no water or good, but please, have some Gatorade runners, we wouldn't want you to get an electrolyte imbalance while others starve in the streets and shelters. All those ambulances who could be evacuating elderly people and answering real emergencies will now be standing around on Sunday waiting for people to throw up and collapse from running.

I know people have trained and put time in for this thing, but really, doesn't anyone think it's too soon? At least postpone it until we get power back.

Here's an idea: Take all the shoes and clothes and swag that's normally given out to runners that they throw away on our streets anyways and donate them to hurricane relief.

Here's a better idea: Once racers are finished running, give them a bag and tell them to walk a mile or two along their route and clean up all the garbage that they've dropped.

Here's the best idea: Change the race route so that runners have to run through the most devastated areas of NYC and its Burroughs. Let the runners have a nice view of all the destruction while they tra la la their way to a gold medal. Careful runners, wouldn't want you to strain a hamstring falling into a crater that was once someone's home!

/rant

EDIT: Oh and let's not forget the giant generators being used to power the tents so the runners can stay toasty warm.

11-02-2012, 08:55 AM	#1
batgirl Aim for the top! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Infield Posts: 2,583	So most of NY is without power and underwater...let's have a race! NYC Marathon Still Goes On Despite Destruction I don't normally start threads and I start threads with a rant even less, but this is something that I find just disgusting. TL;DR is that pretty much Mayor Bloomberg has decided that, despite the hurricane hitting, despite millions of people not having power, heat, clean water or food, he's not cancelling the NY Marathon this Sunday. I find this fucking ridiculous. Every year that they have this marathon, streets, bridges and tunnels are closed so that people can run. Thousands of volunteers give up their time to man stations where they pass out shoes, clothing, food and Gatorade to the runners. Hundreds of ambulances and police stand by to help with medical needs and issues. Sorry guys, remember that little bit of rain we got? Don't you think those resources should be put to better use? As someone who was on the front lines of the destruction and who saw it first hand as it was happening, I am disgusted. There are national guard units and police out in my friends' neighborhoods on the streets enforcing curfew because people are fucking LOOTING! Now Bloomberg wants to take those police away so people can run. There are people with no water or good, but please, have some Gatorade runners, we wouldn't want you to get an electrolyte imbalance while others starve in the streets and shelters. All those ambulances who could be evacuating elderly people and answering real emergencies will now be standing around on Sunday waiting for people to throw up and collapse from running. I know people have trained and put time in for this thing, but really, doesn't anyone think it's too soon? At least postpone it until we get power back. Here's an idea: Take all the shoes and clothes and swag that's normally given out to runners that they throw away on our streets anyways and donate them to hurricane relief. Here's a better idea: Once racers are finished running, give them a bag and tell them to walk a mile or two along their route and clean up all the garbage that they've dropped. Here's the best idea: Change the race route so that runners have to run through the most devastated areas of NYC and its Burroughs. Let the runners have a nice view of all the destruction while they tra la la their way to a gold medal. Careful runners, wouldn't want you to strain a hamstring falling into a crater that was once someone's home! /rant EDIT: Oh and let's not forget the giant generators being used to power the tents so the runners can stay toasty warm. Last edited by batgirl; 11-02-2012 at 09:07 AM.