Due to thunder and rain delays, NYRR decided to delay and eventually cancel the local elite championship race of the 5th Avenue Mile. Athletes were in disbelief considering that the pros were still scheduled to start. About 20 mins after the cancellation was announced, the weather cleared up as it seemingly stopped raining altogether.
Crazy to think that they couldn't mange to squeeze in two 4-5 minute heats before the pros went off. Yikes.
I would think the buildings on the left (east) side of 5th Ave would offer enough protection from lightning strikes. Really surprised they would cancel anything due to weather.
I can confirm. We were first told 30 minute delay due to thunder and then the pro-race coordinator said our race was canceled and we need to leave the area and go home.
Yesterday at a (very large) HS invitational, one of my athletes was physically stopped from finishing in the last straightaway of the 5k race (about 150m from the finish line) due to the weather conditions. It took longer to stop the athletes than if they had just finished the race...
I can confirm. We were first told 30 minute delay due to thunder and then the pro-race coordinator said our race was canceled and we need to leave the area and go home.
I can confirm. We were first told 30 minute delay due to thunder and then the pro-race coordinator said our race was canceled and we need to leave the area and go home.
Feels bad man
Were any of the earlier races cancelled?
It seems like they got through most of the races for the day with the exception of the local elite.
Apparently the NYPD race still went on...And I'm sure NYRR won't give us lowly sub-elites our registration fee back despite saving all this prize money. I might as well just run in the age group division next year
I tried to get in the local elite a few years ago. Had a coach contact the meet director on my behalf and say I was at that level. Race director sent me some corny email about the thrill of breaking tape in the age group division. I outclassed the age group field easily.
Anyway, seems like the local elites get shafted a lot. That sucks.
Lame as hell by NYRR, making sure to run the obese cop heat, but telling the local fast people to get f****d. I understand they can't keep 5th Avenue closed indefinitely, but it's hard to believe they couldn't have found ten minutes after the pros if they actually cared in the slightest. Not refunding entry fees is even worse. I wasn't even signed up to run today, but I'm still pissed off.
I only run one or two NYRR races a year because the overall experience keeps getting worse and worse as they chase money over anything else. It's a shame that they don't have any real competition in NYC.
We made a whole weekend out of the trip to NYC to participate in and spectate the 5th ave mile. Weather is out of their control but having the capacity and plans in place to deal with delays and adapt to weather (within reason) is fully their responsibility.
I'll never make the effort for any NYRR event again, it's not worth it.
the event was part of the Club Points Championship, a season-long racing league that local clubs take seriously. Points scores are kept by NYRR in 10-year age groups, and the winning teams get trophies at a ceremony.
Even though all the age group races went off, NYRR decided to cancel all the scoring for all ages.
They could have cancelled the open race scoring but kept the masters.
I don’t know why they did this but my team plans to protest.
I, for one, applaud the NYRR for making a tough decision and keeping its members safe from harm. A severe lightning storm is no joke, a President Trump rally on July 4 was curtailed by lightning a few years ago. Sure it is unfortunate, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Thank the good lord above that you are blessed with your health, wealth and family.
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