Liberty Run Marathon Cancelled. NO REFUND

TV Watcher wrote:

You don't think the RD could have found a 6.5 mile loop somewhere with minimal impact on traffic that the city would have agreed, too? They absolutely could have gone forward with the race had they intended to. I'm betting there aren't any shirts, medals, bibs, water station supplies etc purchased, either. This stinks of scam.

I've just mapped out a 13+ mile route on park paths and quiet roads around Liberty Sate Park.

You can add to that the Sandy damage free Newport 10K route, run in Jersey City on May 11.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/33623626

One of the runners posted this on their Facebook page.

"...And by the way, Jersey City has no record of a permit or even a permit application for this event."

In another post she also said that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office was already looking into the matter.

A friend of mine was working for a company that decided to put on a run in Southern California. They advertised it and opened registration well before the permits were filed. Seems like the RD really didn't think it would be very hard to put on a 12k through city streets, and filed the permits something like 2 months before the race. Got back a "no" and changed the course to a couple loops plus some sections on paths. Got back another "no" and changed the course to I believe it was 6 loops plus some sections on paths. Thankfully that was a "no" too (can you imagine lapping people five times in a race, or trying to organize the logistics of such a thing?) and they ended up cancelling the race a week or two before the date.

I don't think many people registered for that one (the RD was probably expecting at least 5000 people) and I'm pretty sure everyone got their money back. Point is this RD, probably a hobbyjogger from upper management, was not trying to scam anyone--he was just completely oblivious about putting on a race.

Optional wrote:

One of the runners posted this on their Facebook page.

"...And by the way, Jersey City has no record of a permit or even a permit application for this event."

In another post she also said that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office was already looking into the matter.

Not quite the case, but it sounds like they didn't do what they needed to get the permits. They do say they are giving refunds now-

LOL at that article. What a scam artist.

Sounds like the complaints about no refunds were heard.

I sort of feel for them though if Jersey City and the others require upfront payment which the story suggests. Would that mean all the money is spent before the race?

Since the runner's world article, the 5k was canceled with a whole series of different excuses as to why.

Interesting blog posts detailing the crazy story:

http://afastpacedlife.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/what-went-wrong-with-the-inaugural-new-jersey-liberty-run-marathon-a-scam-or-a-bungled-affair/

Follow up posts focus on the race organizers announcing all the details, and reconfirming the Saturday morning 5k on FRIDAY NIGHT, and then not holding it the next morning, as they had no permit.

http://afastpacedlife.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/the-deceit-of-dave-english-the-folly-of-the-nj-liberty-run-marathon/

I was unaware permits were needed to put on a marathon. We really aren't giving refunds. That was just put on the site to calm people down as we slip down to double that money in Atlantic City. If we double it we will give the money to the vets. If we go belly up our arses are headed out of the country. Kendra you can come down and party with us.

Jersey Boy wrote:

Since the runner's world article, the 5k was canceled with a whole series of different excuses as to why.

Interesting blog posts detailing the crazy story:

http://afastpacedlife.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/what-went-wrong-with-the-inaugural-new-jersey-liberty-run-marathon-a-scam-or-a-bungled-affair/

Follow up posts focus on the race organizers announcing all the details, and reconfirming the Saturday morning 5k on FRIDAY NIGHT, and then not holding it the next morning, as they had no permit.

http://afastpacedlife.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/the-deceit-of-dave-english-the-folly-of-the-nj-liberty-run-marathon/

The dude blogging is a moron. He assumes that "the organizer" is Dave English and actually tweeted at Mary Wittenberg asking her to confirm that she gave advice.