I’m not optimistic about the fate of large scale racing in 2021.
If you’re a member of the NYRR, you just received an email from them telling you that the Brooklyn Half was cancelled.
I mean, did they need to send an email? Who would have thought that the largest half marathon with almost 27K finishers when it was run in 2019 would happen in May?
Not me.
But, then again, I’ve never been accused of being that sunny optimist you all think I am.
So where does that leave us for the rest of the races in 2021? If you’re following the news, you’ve probably already seen that the London Marathon has postponed until October 3, Boston until October 11 with Chicago on October 10 (which is the regularly scheduled date).
I hope I’m wrong, I truly do, but I think all of those race directors are being overly ambitious.
I was considering which races I wanted to make my goals this year. And for a second, I thought that maybe, just maybe fall races might happen.
I’ve always wanted to run Scranton and was chatting with someone about the race so I went to see if registration was open yet. It wasn’t clear on the website if it was open so I emailed the race director to ask.
And this is the response I got back:
And that’s the smartest response I think I’ve seen.
Things are changing fast. And what made sense today, might not make sense tomorrow or the day after or like, in the fall.
Do I think fall marathons will happen? Today, I don’t.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow.
Keep a good thought folks!
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
My Current Running Gear
- Merch: https://dirtyoldsneakers.threadless.com/
- Fenix 6X Pro Solar: https://amzn.to/2lYguxk
- AfterShokz Aeropex: https://amzn.to/3cW9HcN
- Daily/Long Run: ASICS Gel Nimbus 23: https://amzn.to/2KJ66G3
- Speedwork: ASICS Novablast: https://amzn.to/3bn72HY
- Trex Aeropex: https://amzn.to/3ciK9tf
- GoPro Hero Max 360: https://amzn.to/35VcOBv
- Oakley Half Jacket 2.0: https://amzn.to/2ZOcMI2
- Follow me on Strava: http://bit.ly/EricOnStrava
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Testing. It will obviously be passed on to us in registration fees but will race directors lay out the funds for rapid testing machines and the needed operators to have races? This is how mass events are going to happen in many places for the next couple of years. Our Governor, no politics from me, has said testing is how large events will happen here in NY.. Not within 3 days but at the time of the event.
I don’t even think that’s the answer. When my son’s school did both rapid and PCR testing (at the same time), all of the rapids came back negative. When PCR tests came back, there were a bunch of positives. I’m no doctor, so I’ll just wait until the doctors say it’s okay.
Maybe eventually the criteria for running races will be who has received the COVID vaccine and has the vaccination card to prove it — just like airlines are talking about doing for flights.
Well then it could be years before large scale racing returns. All the doctors I have heard have said this will be a prominent problem for the next couple of years at least and like most viruses it will never just go away. Many races probably don’t survive this then as well.
Eric, do you think the NYC Marathon 2021 will be cancelled? A post from you earlier this year was my first clue that the NYC Half would be cancelled, so I am now relying on your opinion for the NYC Marathon.
As of today, I don’t think so. But all of it could change tomorrow.
Eric, thank you for your reply. Your opinion is more valid to me than others’ as yours is “real world” versus the “public relations” of New York Road Runners. Thank you.