Hurricane Sandy

In addition to massive city wide devastation, Hurricane Sandy left in its wake, a controversy in the name of the 2012 New York Road Runners’ Marathon. Most of those who opposed to it, termed it as an extravagance, in light of the efforts to reinstate the New York City’s basic services such as electricity and transit system. Those supporting the running of the marathon as scheduled felt that it would prove to the New Yorkers and the rest of the world that, the city was strong despite the effects of hurricane sandy. The 4th of November race, was scheduled to start from Staten Island, through Brooklyn and Queens, then up the Manhattan East Side into the Bronx, then end at the Central Park. The marathon was finally cancelled, but it was a manifestation of the silent controversies that have dogged its organizer, the New York Road Runners Club regarding the meaning and purpose of the Marathon, as well as leadership issues. This paper reexamines the pros and cons regarding the controversy of canceling the 2012 NYC Marathon.

The cancellation of the NYC marathon was met with resentment, reprieve, disappointment, frustration, despondency, and absolution among those directly involved or connected with the event. However, throughout the race week controversy, the City of New York and the New York Road Runners were engaged in challenging and exceptional situations and were expected to make an extremely acute decision that had repercussions, further than the constraints of the race itself. According to the NYRR website, the race was cancelled to quell unnecessary and progressive controversy and reduce interference with the relief efforts to assist more than 2 million New Yorkers who required assistance.

Accordingly, as with any radical decision affecting people on a large scale, the controversy regarding the cancellation had its own advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, the controversy illuminated the progress made among individuals in terms of their collective bargaining power in issues that affect them. Notably, the decision stemmed for massive public outcry to push or cancel particularly because many New Yorkers felt the city’s remaining resources would not survive the marathon. Indeed, the controversy displayed the unity in adversity among New Yorkers even after the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy.

Another positive stemming from this controversy is that it helped display the leadership priorities of New York City leadership and the New York Road Runners. In particular, the controversy proved the ability of the Race’s leadership to transform an overwhelming disappointing situation into an exceptional chance to redistribute its extensive influence, organization and resources to help solve a communal problem. Further, the controversy is a point of reference for the NYRR CEO, Mary Wittenberg, who has in the past received severe criticism regarding her style of leadership and the transformation of the Club into