Well, nothing gets the NYRR members going like.....well, pretty much anything NYRR does. But today's announcement of a no baggage policy at the Marathon has met with almost universal condemnation.
The first thing I would say is that in almost all cases, NYRR tries to act for the best. Their biggest problem is a failure to communicate in a timely manner and insufficient consultation with the people most affected - the runners. It would appear the City, the Police, UPS and everyone else has a say. Well, today the runners spoke and they weren't happy.
I am one of the least affected people. In fact, this may benefit me. I should get out of the park quicker and I live nearby. There will also be a large number of people with family & friends nearby who can hold a bag for them. Nearly everyone has some throw away clothes they can wear to the start, and most will be able to get all the nutrition they need after the race. And yet I agree that on balance it is probably the wrong decision.
The decision is supposedly based on safety alone. Yet while those with a known medical necessity will be able to get their medication, it is the unknown which is concerning.
According to Accuweather, the average low from past New York City marathons is 47 degrees F, and the average high from past New York City marathons is 62 degrees F. However, the coldest morning low in New York City's Central Park on the morning of the marathon over the past 20 years was 34 degrees on Nov. 5, 1995 and the warmest afternoon high 73 degrees F on Nov. 4, 1990.
For the multitude of people without friends and family who will have to travel back to their hotel, possibly well in excess of an hour after the race, with just a poncho, these extremes could prove problematic, even dangerous. The poncho is only of any use if it is mild, and/or it rains. Even then, people will be in wet, cold clothing.
I think the biggest issue runners are having is that no other marathon has done this, and there are plenty of big ones. It would have helped to know if they have spoken to other organizers and what other options have been considered.
It is not too late for Mary Wittenberg and NYRR to hear their customers, to backtrack on the decision or at least defer until 2013 pending further consultation. I hope they consider this option.
Would love to hear any thoughts, or - as we have heard all the complaints - any constructive alternative options.
The first thing I would say is that in almost all cases, NYRR tries to act for the best. Their biggest problem is a failure to communicate in a timely manner and insufficient consultation with the people most affected - the runners. It would appear the City, the Police, UPS and everyone else has a say. Well, today the runners spoke and they weren't happy.
I am one of the least affected people. In fact, this may benefit me. I should get out of the park quicker and I live nearby. There will also be a large number of people with family & friends nearby who can hold a bag for them. Nearly everyone has some throw away clothes they can wear to the start, and most will be able to get all the nutrition they need after the race. And yet I agree that on balance it is probably the wrong decision.
The decision is supposedly based on safety alone. Yet while those with a known medical necessity will be able to get their medication, it is the unknown which is concerning.
According to Accuweather, the average low from past New York City marathons is 47 degrees F, and the average high from past New York City marathons is 62 degrees F. However, the coldest morning low in New York City's Central Park on the morning of the marathon over the past 20 years was 34 degrees on Nov. 5, 1995 and the warmest afternoon high 73 degrees F on Nov. 4, 1990.
For the multitude of people without friends and family who will have to travel back to their hotel, possibly well in excess of an hour after the race, with just a poncho, these extremes could prove problematic, even dangerous. The poncho is only of any use if it is mild, and/or it rains. Even then, people will be in wet, cold clothing.
I think the biggest issue runners are having is that no other marathon has done this, and there are plenty of big ones. It would have helped to know if they have spoken to other organizers and what other options have been considered.
It is not too late for Mary Wittenberg and NYRR to hear their customers, to backtrack on the decision or at least defer until 2013 pending further consultation. I hope they consider this option.
Would love to hear any thoughts, or - as we have heard all the complaints - any constructive alternative options.
I do understand the congestion problem especially during what I am assuming are the peak hours when most runners are finishing the race. Does something need to be done to ease congestion? Yes, but there aren't too many other options that wouldn't cause other complaints or are just logistically feasible.
ReplyDeleteI couple of years ago I ran the Philly half and my friend and I stayed in a hotel about 4 miles from the finish. We didn't check bags and of course couldn't get a cab. I was in shorts and my friend was wearing tights. We were freezing and it took us a good three hours to get warm back in our hotel. That was just for a half. I'm afraid to think of how bad it will be for me a slower runner making my way back to Westchester with my new poncho and still wearing shorts.
Want to store some dry clothes for me?
Hi Stacey, I think you just found me a money spinner - I could run baggage check from my home! Seriously though, I did think that they could just move the baggage check further away, like further north in the park (Great Lawn? Delacorte Theater?). Number of people leaving is the same but would string them out.
ReplyDeleteAnother idea, if there is some underlying problem with the expense of UPS (which I don't know but have seen people mention). How about allowing people to check at the Expo, which would increase the ease of transporting stuff to the finish (less distance, more time to do it).
ReplyDeleteChecking at the expo is not a solution. The problem is not just at the finish but perhaps more so at the start. It can be downright freezing cold while waiting hours before the race begins. Even waiting for one of the buses in front of the NY public library can be a long cold wait. There's only so much "throw away clothes" I bring to the start of a race. Just the price of the race made me doubt the sanity of running this race again. This makes the decision easy.
ReplyDelete