So there's a 99% chance the marathon will be canceled? Let's review the situation again in four weeks, but I think Valencia will want to bring tourists and their money back to the area as soon as possible, since it's in no one's interest for local businesses' finances to collapse.
You know what also prevents businesses collapsing though? No electricity, a broken transport network & a severely damaged road infrastructure. I might also add a population seething at its government - and willing to show it through action - does no favours for business either given it makes a place feel hostile.
Yeh a marathon would do nicely for a place. But there shouldn't even be a conversation about it going ahead when the very foundations of what allows Valencia to thrive as a city are creaking at the seems.
As someone who's signed up to this marathon - there's bigger problems to deal with in Valencia than ensuring some runners get to do a very long run.
Cancelling the marathon is unlikely to help fix electricity issues, a broken transport network, or a severely damaged road infrastructure. It only worsens the hardship as hotel reservations are canceled, restaurants lose customers, and so on.
Another day so far with no news and the social media channels for the marathon (IG and x) are starting to receive lots of questions. Understand there's probably many plates spinning but I hope they give people some updates this week as to what is going on with the event and don't leave it until the last minute to decide.
Other people who were planning on running the race, what will you do if the race is cancelled? Will you visit the city for a 'vacation' anyway? get refunded for your expenses? pivot to another race or just call the block quits?
None of my flights, hotel or other expenses are refundable and I doubt insurance would cover them anyway as the city is technically still visitable. A very first world problem but I wouldn't be able to afford to switch to Pisa/Malaga. I'd be happy to donate my Valencia entry fee to the disaster response if they made that an option.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Yes, on Reddit someone anonymously mentioned in one sentence that they had spoken with a government official. It would be nice to know who they spoke with, and if this is official, then why hasn’t the event been canceled yet?
Cancelling the marathon is unlikely to help fix electricity issues, a broken transport network, or a severely damaged road infrastructure. It only worsens the hardship as hotel reservations are canceled, restaurants lose customers, and so on.
Spain is a developed economy, a weekend of cancelled restaurant reservations isn't a problem.
Hello, First of all, we would like to express our deepest sympathy and solidarity to all those who have been affected, you or your loved ones, by the catastrophe that has devastated our province and some other parts of Spain. The organization of the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich has been working from day one, with the utmost discretion, to help those affected by the DANA. It did so on the front line, directly assisting victims in the early hours of Tuesday to Wednesday, and, later, in logistical tasks entrusted by the authorities to support the victims. Any help is little. The city of Valencia has not been affected by the effects of the disaster, but we cannot remain impassive, and we continue to contribute our humble effort to reduce the effects of this tragedy in the affected municipalities. We also know that it is essential to reassure you as soon as possible that the race will take place on 1 December. That is why we ask for a little more patience, just a few days given the exceptional situation, and we will send you an update next week. We invite you to continue with your preparation, as our goal is to see you at the finish line. Additionally, We would also like to inform you that we are finalising various formulas so that, once the most urgent clean-up work has been completed and the main roads in the affected municipalities have been opened, we can continue to provide aid to the victims, who must not be forgotten.
Another day so far with no news and the social media channels for the marathon (IG and x) are starting to receive lots of questions. Understand there's probably many plates spinning but I hope they give people some updates this week as to what is going on with the event and don't leave it until the last minute to decide.
Other people who were planning on running the race, what will you do if the race is cancelled? Will you visit the city for a 'vacation' anyway? get refunded for your expenses? pivot to another race or just call the block quits?
None of my flights, hotel or other expenses are refundable and I doubt insurance would cover them anyway as the city is technically still visitable. A very first world problem but I wouldn't be able to afford to switch to Pisa/Malaga. I'd be happy to donate my Valencia entry fee to the disaster response if they made that an option.
I have never been to Spain and have a whole trip planned around this race. Start in Barcelona then off to Montserrrat, Madrid, Segovia, Cuenca and top it off with a 42.195km tour of Valencia. In the event it is cancelled,I will go anyway but I hope the marathon site will refund my hotel reservation. I would likely replace my stay in Valencia with a few days in Alicante. I figure if they cancel the marathon, they don't really want tourists there at that time.... Sadly, I can't find another marathon that fits my travel dates. So I suppose the last months will count as early training for London 2025.
Another day so far with no news and the social media channels for the marathon (IG and x) are starting to receive lots of questions. Understand there's probably many plates spinning but I hope they give people some updates this week as to what is going on with the event and don't leave it until the last minute to decide.
Other people who were planning on running the race, what will you do if the race is cancelled? Will you visit the city for a 'vacation' anyway? get refunded for your expenses? pivot to another race or just call the block quits?
None of my flights, hotel or other expenses are refundable and I doubt insurance would cover them anyway as the city is technically still visitable. A very first world problem but I wouldn't be able to afford to switch to Pisa/Malaga. I'd be happy to donate my Valencia entry fee to the disaster response if they made that an option.
I have never been to Spain and have a whole trip planned around this race. Start in Barcelona then off to Montserrrat, Madrid, Segovia, Cuenca and top it off with a 42.195km tour of Valencia. In the event it is cancelled,I will go anyway but I hope the marathon site will refund my hotel reservation. I would likely replace my stay in Valencia with a few days in Alicante. I figure if they cancel the marathon, they don't really want tourists there at that time.... Sadly, I can't find another marathon that fits my travel dates. So I suppose the last months will count as early training for London 2025.
Barcelona is also now experiencing extreme flooding as of today.
There's a lot of recent astroturf in this thread aggressively selling the belief of a cancellation, but even redditors seem to know better than to jump to conclusions (link below). The race is still almost a month away.
While there's obviously been a lot of loss... locals are mad at any attempt for life to go on in the area, so they're astroturfing doom and gloom to the world out of spite.
I'm sorry but locals 'astroturfing doom and gloom' sounds incredibly presumptuous. Civil unrest & anger toward the authorities may or may not be just.
At this point to some this is clearly becoming an ethical issue. I will give due consideration on whether to participate in a marathon taking place in a region hit by a natural disaster 4 weeks prior. At this point is it in bad taste?
I would therefore not downplay the sentiment of locals when it's now a pivotal aspect of deciding whether to participate in this marathon. This is what some are getting at on here. Justifiably so.
I am living 15k from Valencia and I am a keen runner. I can tell you that the people of Valencia do not blame international runners for this tragedy however we do NOT feel the time is right for you to come. My running club voted on this and we all feel it's just not right. Not now.
So please, I ask you in peace, stay home this year. Write to the organisers and tell them you won't come. Next year we would love to see you all for the best Valencia Marathon ever!
I am living 15k from Valencia and I am a keen runner. I can tell you that the people of Valencia do not blame international runners for this tragedy however we do NOT feel the time is right for you to come. My running club voted on this and we all feel it's just not right. Not now.
So please, I ask you in peace, stay home this year. Write to the organisers and tell them you won't come. Next year we would love to see you all for the best Valencia Marathon ever!
Agreed, I can't even believe it's up for debate. I can't imagine celebrating while so much suffering is ongoing.
We will hear by next week that it has been cancelled hopefully.