NY marathoners can finally get refund on cancelled race

New York City Marathon runners can finally receive a refund of their entry fee after this year's race was canceled in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Officials of the ING NYC Marathon told runners after the race was called off last month that they had a no-refund policy but had not made a final decision what to do because of the unusual circumstances.

Now, the race organizer, the New York Road Runners Club, told runners Thursday that they had three options to choose from — one of them being a refund.

Runners can also go for a guaranteed spot in the 2013, 2014 or 2015 marathon.  They would have to pay the entry fee again but at the 2012 rate.

The third choice is accepting a spot in March's NYC half-marathon.

Costs this year ranged from $216-$347 and the refund only applies to runners who had not withdrawn before Oct. 24..  There is an $11 processing fee.

Hurricane Sandy swept through the New York City area six days before the race was scheduled.  Officials of the NYRRC and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg dragged their feet on making a decision about canceling or postponing the race while area residents cleaned up after the devastating storm which left thousands homeless.

 Frustrated runners — some who travelled long distances for the 26-mile race — were angered after the marathon was finally called off less than 48 hours before the race was going to start.

An ad-hoc alternative race was held in Central Park and other areas near New York.

Philadelphia Marathon offers slots to runners shut out of NYC Marathon

They don't call it the City of Brotherly Love for nothing — and now we know why.

Organizers of the sold-out Nov.18 Philadelphia Marathon have opened up 3,000 slots for runners who didn't get to compete in last Sunday's ING New York City Marathon because of Hurricane Sandy.

Runners who were registered for the more famous marathon 120 miles up the N.J. Turnpike can enter a lottery to register for the 26.2 run through Philadelphia beginning Wed., Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. EST at the Philadelphia Marathon website.  The offer is good solely to those previously registered in the NYC Marathon.

Entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. Thursday; a computer will randomly select up to 3,000 people.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said Tuesday that his city would be happy to give some lucky runners a chance to race after the NYC Marathon became a center of controversy and was cancelled.

"We understand marathoners have invested a great deal of time, training and dedication to prepare," he said of the gesture.  "It's something we can do to support the running community."

Way to go Philly.

NYC politician calls mayor's refusal to cancel marathon 'idiotic'

The number of New Yorkers calling for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to call off Sunday's ING New York City Marathon in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is growing.

Staten Island,  one of the hardest hit areas in New York City and the starting point for the 26.2-mile race, is still cleaning up their storm-ravaged neighborhoods and the anger in the crippled borough is so high, a local councilman has called the mayor's refusal to call off the race "idiotic" on his Facebook page.

"The notion of diverting even one police officer, one first responder, one asset away from this carnage is beyond irrational," Councilman James Oddo told The New York Daily News.

Staten Island is the scene of some of the most tragic stories and images to come out of the devastating storm.  Just yesterday, two young brothers' bodies were found, after they were swept away from their mother, and numerous photos of trapped residents being rescued from their homes on the South Shore were all over the news.  Residents are still pleading for help from the city.

The thought of tents, food, water and generator-supplied power catering to the perky 47,000 runners at the marathon's starting line — while despondent people go cold, wet and without power nearby — is just one reason Staten Island residents are joining a "Boycott the 2012 NYC Marathon."

Bloomberg, meanwhile, held firm on holding the race.

"This city is a city where we have to go on."

"Keep in mind by Sunday we'll have electricity back downtown," he said.  "That will free up an enormous number of police.  Also, a lot of the transportation needs that we have during the week aren't there on the weekends."

A lot of the registered participants, who have trained for the race, are having second thoughts about running through a course with a backdrop of destruction and despair.

The New York Road Runners Facebook page has been filling up with requests to cancel this year's race — or at least postpone it.

The NYRRC has promised to donate $1 million to the Sandy relief.

Ironically, the runners will begin their run with a carnival-like start at the entrance to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, then jog forward into Brooklyn leaving their disposable clothing and empty water bottles amongst the destruction Sandy left behind.

Maybe some will look back over their shoulders.

Jenny Finch Shows Up at New York Giants Practice

The New York Giants came in contact with another bird for the fourth week in a row.  After beating the Eagles, Cardinals and losing to the Seahawks, former Olympic gold medalist Jenny Finch showed up at the team's practice facility and lent a little beauty to what is shaping up as an ugly Giants team.

The former softball pitcher showed up at the Giants Timex Performance Center yesterday as part of a cross-sponsor event prior to her running the ING NYC Marathon next month.

The 31 year-old Finch sported Brandon Jacobs' #27 jersey and chatted with players.

She did some placekicking with punter Steve Weatherford-- and even made a 20-yard field goal-- before she took some passes from TE's Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe.

Victor Cruz should take note-- Finch actually holds on to the ball.

Finch is running her first marathon after recently completing a half-marathon.  She said she is cramming in her training before the Nov. 6 race and the flame-throwing pitcher has set a modest goal.

"I'm going for around four [hours]," she said.

Finch looked pretty good running routes and catching the ball.  No word on if she was instructed how to 'flop' or 'give herself up.'