No Baggage Check at the NYC Marathon

lucky luciano wrote:

if you have a "lucky" pair of sweats and are older than, say, 8, you probably should go see a shrink.

Ridiculous comment.

For 99% of non-elites, running NYC involves a ride on a probably-cold ferry and then a long shuttle bus to the start. Plus presumably a walk to the subway at 5am just to get to the damn ferry. Between that and sitting around for hours before the start, not taking warm-ups is ridiculous.

I don't know about "lucky" sweatpants - I just don't want to give away warm-up pants, jacket and probably a warm top just so this race can get even more bloated.

To beat you to the obvious point, I'm well aware that nobody from NYRR is going to miss my sub-sub-elite presence. This just strengthens the argument that accommodating hoardes of waddlers is coming at the detriment of athletes.

I will pony up $260 for a marathon when it gets my stuff from the start to the finish AND guarantees me a spot in the next OT marathon.

Put me down on the list of people who have no interest in ever running NYC again. Did it once a few years ago, and frankly, it wasn't very enjoyable. Crazy expensive, have to get up at 4:00 in the morning to catch a bus, then take a ferry, then take another bus, and then sit on your a$$ for three hours in a park that is more like a refugee camp. They can take their bag-check and shove it.

I wonder if this policy is the same for the elite runners, or is there a double standard when it comes to them?

Apparently, baggage check is still available for charity runners.

NYRR has increasingly become a large money machine with no connection to the wishes or needs of average NYC runners. But they will no doubt now drive more people to the charity route, which is all they care about anyway.

good times wrote:

Put me down on the list of people who have no interest in ever running NYC again. Did it once a few years ago, and frankly, it wasn't very enjoyable. Crazy expensive, have to get up at 4:00 in the morning to catch a bus, then take a ferry, then take another bus, and then sit on your a$$ for three hours in a park that is more like a refugee camp. They can take their bag-check and shove it.

I normally sleep in until 6:30am, get to the Subway around 7:00, catch the 7:30 ferry and take the free shuttle bus to the start.

That gets me to the start around 8:45 am.

The total cost $0:00 as I have a weekly unlimited Metrocard.

Only tourists, crazy people and nervous first-timers use the official buses.

Being from Canada, the race entry alone was $350. I DON'T RUN WITH A BELT and hate carrying crap when I run; also, the #1 first thing I do after getting my medal is grabbing my gear, getting into my flip-flops and changing my clothes so I don't freeze. This poncho they're going to give us is a joke. I was on the fence about running NYC this year and now I know for sure this will be my last NYC Marathon. Not because of the bag check, but because of their greed and how they've handled this whole clusterf#@!. Chicago is FAR superior.

Petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/new-york-road-runners-bring-back-the-baggage-check?utm_campaign=share_button_mobile&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=2416956

It is no longer a quality event. They are now too greedy including the NYRR Preident making a salary of $500K.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

For 99% of non-elites, running NYC involves a ride on a probably-cold ferry

It's pretty warm actually. The only problem is the long line for the toilets.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

a long shuttle bus to the start.

It takes 20 minutes, if that.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

Plus presumably a walk to the subway at 5am just to get to the damn ferry.

The Subway takes 15 - 20 minutes from Midtown. Leaving your hotel at 6:45 will get you to the start about 90 minutes before the first wave.

Randy Oldman wrote:

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

For 99% of non-elites, running NYC involves a ride on a probably-cold ferry

It's pretty warm actually. The only problem is the long line for the toilets.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

a long shuttle bus to the start.

It takes 20 minutes, if that.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

Plus presumably a walk to the subway at 5am just to get to the damn ferry.

The Subway takes 15 - 20 minutes from Midtown. Leaving your hotel at 6:45 will get you to the start about 90 minutes before the first wave.

The bus from the meadowlands takes almost an hour.

NY RUUNER wrote:

I wonder if this policy is the same for the elite runners, or is there a double standard when it comes to them?

The policy is not the same for elite runners, then again it hasn't ever been the same.

Elite runners have heated tents and free massages before the race. They are allowed to wear their warm ups to the starting line and take them off before the start. Additionally the recovery area is in a different spot as well.

And I know that you are half joking, but do you really expect NYRR to change the policy for elites? There are a ton of perks that elites get (fluid stations, police escorted bus, etc), do you really think this would be different? Elites are part (not all, but part) of what makes this marathon so special.

Friends/family trying to find you among thousands of matching ponchos seems like a great way to ease congestion.

Clam Evans wrote:

The bus from the meadowlands takes almost an hour.

Who cares? That's New Jersey.

Check this out:

You can leave your room key at the front desk of hotel. Wow, that takes some thinking, huh?

Get on later ferry and you don't hang about for 3 hours. And the ferry is warm...

Last year I had to hustle to get in corral. Don't go early.

But two years in a row, UPS truck my bag was in was completely disorganized. Almost full on riot. This was right around 3hour people.

They just had pile of bags, and would call out random #s. Hundred or so angry dudes clamoring for their stuff. Some there for long time. First year I got lucky, second year almost said f*ck it and left. Some trucks took time and got bags lined up numerically. Not mine. Huge clusterf*ck. Sure many complained.

As for the race, I dig it. It feels like big event in best city in world.

If you don't like it, don't whine about it. Just don't go. They ain't going to miss you.

NY is tough. Not the easiest puzzle on the shelf. Where else would you want to have a big day though? Cleveland?

Yawn...don't run.

Mr. Met wrote:

According to NYRR Facebook Page, there will be no baggage check at this years marathon. The stupidest thing i have ever heard. If they are having problems with congestion, how about you lower the amount of people in a overcrowded race.

Wittenberg is an idiot. Unless of course her goal is to now repel runners from NYC thus lowering the numbers and improving the experience for all. who do run.

But I kinda doubt that.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Friends/family trying to find you among thousands of matching ponchos seems like a great way to ease congestion.

POD