Bloomberg Cancels NYC Marathon

By Samantha-Rae Tuthill, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

November 2,2012; 8:15PM,EDT

After holding meetings with top New York officials, the decision to cancel this year's New York Marathon was made.
Update:
Initially, New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg had announced that the marathon would go on as planned. Many voiced their opposition to the plan.
The decision to cancel the marathon was made at about 5:30 p.m. EDT Friday.
Conditions for the day will be partly sunny with brisk winds blowing at 10-20 miles per hour. The daytime high will be 49 degrees with a morning low of 38.
WABC-TV meteorologist Amy Freeze has a lot of experience in running as well as the weather. This will be her third New York City Marathon and her seventh marathon overall. With temperatures being so low at the start of the race, she advises runners to dress in layers.
"There is usually a long wait before the start so layers are important to conserve energy," she said. "A lot of runners do this with old clothes or even trash bags that they can ditch at the start."

Runners at the 2009 NYC Marathon. Photo courtesy of Michael Dolan

It's also wise to wear clothes that will wick away moisture, so that sweat won't make you too cold as you run. Chaffing is also an issue whenever running for long distances, and the cold will only exacerbate the problem. Vaseline can help soothe the skin when this happens.
When running in colder temperatures, breathing through your nose instead of your mouth will give the air more time to warm before it reaches your lungs. Cold air can irritate the lungs, and that leads to coughing and makes breathing harder when you are running.
When running in any conditions, it's important to stay hydrated. Even when it's cooler, you will still sweat and will need to rehydrate often. Sunscreen is also advised when spending extended periods of time outsidesince your skin can still be damaged by UV rays even when it's cloudy or during fall and winter months.
There have been many mixed reactions to the news that the marathon is still on. While some on social media outlets are calling it a sign of the city's perseverance, others are bemoaning it as insensitive and a potential waste of resources on a city that needs all the help it can get.