Liberty Run Marathon Cancelled. NO REFUND

"For those runners wanting a refund, it is stated on the registration that there would be no refunds only because of the funds were going to the community, but if you wish to take those funds back, please send an email to office@lrmg.org and we will work out a plan to do so."

The website (I was curious) does say it will try to arrange refunds to anyone who wants to take the money away from the community who needs it. They might refund your money after the guilt trip.

tycobb wrote:

The website (I was curious) does say it will try to arrange refunds to anyone who wants to take the money away from the community who needs it. They might refund your money after the guilt trip.

That is a bunch of nonsense.

This sounds very fishy. Was there ever a plan to put this race on? Possible scam.

I used to live in Hoboken, NJ, and I was skeptical about this race from the first time I saw it announced. They had a course that ran through about 6 cities in a very congested part of New Jersey, but the group organizing it didn't seem to have any experience putting on anything of this sort.

I've been on race organizing committees before, and it takes a ton of time and effort to put on a race. These guys seemed to think that they were putting on a 5K in West Bumblef*ck, where there is little traffic. A marathon in Hudson and Bergen County, NJ, is a whole different matter.

Caveat emptor. A first time marathon put on by obvious novices cannot turn out well.

at the very least they should send out receipts for charitable donations so people can claim a deduction. some runners make enough money to pay taxes.

Confused Briton wrote:

"For those runners wanting a refund, it is stated on the registration that there would be no refunds only because of the funds were going to the community, but if you wish to take those funds back, please send an email to

office@lrmg.org

and we will work out a plan to do so."

And their grammar is bad too....

That's not even the worst of it. Among other egregious errors, the website also talks about options they're offering "in lue" of a refund.

You know who I am wrote:

And their grammar is bad too....

Sounds like a racket.

I need to start collecting entry fees for races I have no intention of putting on. Apparently "no refunds issued for any reason" is a license to steal.

Contact the New Jersey State Attorney General office (consumer fraud division).

At least lodge a complaint.

I want to know when exactly the cancelation was announced. I received no email and just found out this morning because i just happened to be bored on the train and checked the website. Super poor planning. Youve already deprived me of my race, dont try to guilt trip me into just letting my $100+ go too. Not cool.

Due to unseen circumstances we regret cancelling the marathon. We did not realize all of the logistical complications with putting on event of this magnitude. We will try to give all those who entered this year entry into next year's race a 10% discount for next year. We were just trying to raise money for a worthy cause. It is unfair to ask for the money back that was given to the community. Just look at as a charitable act of kindness. Mary Wittenberg was contacted and gave us this advice. I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns on this thread.

mook wrote:

at the very least they should send out receipts for charitable donations so people can claim a deduction. some runners make enough money to pay taxes.

I am truely sorry we are unable to provide receipts. Many of the donations we made were annonymous cash donations.

Wow. Unbelievable. That race director should be in jail. Let's sic the IRS on him.

The organizer wrote:

Due to unseen circumstances we regret cancelling the marathon. We did not realize all of the logistical complications with putting on event of this magnitude. We will try to give all those who entered this year entry into next year's race a 10% discount for next year. We were just trying to raise money for a worthy cause. It is unfair to ask for the money back that was given to the community. Just look at as a charitable act of kindness. Mary Wittenberg was contacted and gave us this advice. I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns on this thread.

It is unfair to take money from runners with the promise that these were entry fees to a race and then cancel the race. If you wanted to raise money for the community you should have asked for donations.

Why the hatred for this fine organisation trying to raise money? I am sure they tried to put on the event.

Liberty marathon? Oh no I am sorry I helped cancel the New York marathon. I thought that was what we were talking about. Geez we on the east coast are always ripping people off.

Mrs Wittenberg wrote:

I am sure they tried to put on the event.

There are people who I am sure tried to do their jobs well and failed. Should they not be held accountable and fired?

Sounds like a total scam from the beginning. What percentage of the entry fee was donated to the charities. How much did the organizers get paid as "pres, vp, ceo, cfo, ceo's cousin, etc.?"