2012 NYC Marathon "Results".

So.  Hurricane Sandy happened.  We were all afraid that had we ran the 2012 NYC Marathon, we’d be attacked with sock full of feces.  Some of us called it a season and didn’t do any make up races, some of us braved the streets of Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Richmond, even Prospect Park. 

Now NYRR has decided what to do with the all the angry marathoners.  It’s expected that NYRR will send out a notice to NYCM 2012 registrants soon with the announcement.

You’ll have a choice of options here.

1)      Get a full refund. 

2)      No Refund, but guarantee entry into NYC Half Marathon 2013 (which costs $117).

3)      No Refund, but guarantee entry into NYC Marathon of your choice (2013, 2014 or 2015).  If you choose this option, registration fees for the future marathon will be “frozen” at 2012 rates. 

Earlier this month, we all got a one sentence e-mail from NYRR that almost made me smash my computer:

Post-Cancellation Updates
Please note that NYRR members as of January 2012 who entered the 2012 ING New York City Marathon will receive 9+1 race qualifying credit for their entry. Members should check their NYRR member profile starting December 11, 2012, to ensure that they've received the credit.

This e-mail we got is saying that the non-event NYCM 2012 will count towards one of the races for the “9+1” deal for NYCM 2013.  So even if you didn’t run the marathon, they will credit you with “a race” to meet your 9 races.  Most of us here at Agony (or any other NYC teams) have already ran like 20 races even before the NYCM 2012, so this was silly and more like a slap in the face than anything. 

Here are our thoughts:

Option 1)  Good idea. We like cash.  We especially like cash when it’s during the holidays.

Option 2)  I don’t get my $230 back AND I have to pay $117?!  No thanks.  Half marathon is half the distance but the price is MORE THAN HALF of the marathon.  This is a BAD DEAL.

Option 3)  We’re from NYC area and we are a NYRR registered competitive team.  We normally run more than 9 races a year, so we practically have guaranteed entry for the life of our running carrier.  Also, we’d have to pay another round of registration fees, albeit at the frozen 2012 rates.  WAIT.  WAIT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘FROZEN’ registration fee?  Does this mean this thing is going to be MORE EXPENSIVE in the future?  Are we going to see $300 registration fees!?  I have better, funner, cheaper, races that I can run than NYC Marathon…

So kids, choose your options wisely.  All things considered, smart money for most Agonites is probably cash back.  Go get yourselves a new pair of running shoes (2013 models are out, yo!) and maybe a nice pair of CEP socks or two.  We olds master runners need that sh!t to hold our sad calves together.